EFTA demands government explanation over continued Førdefjorden dumping

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is demanding an explanation from the Norwegian government regarding the continued dumping of mining waste into Førdefjorden. This action comes just two days after the Supreme Court ruled against the state, invalidating the permit that allowed these discharges.

EFTA, which monitors compliance with the EEA Agreement for Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, requested the government's statement by June 19. The Supreme Court determined that the state improperly invoked an exception within the EU Water Framework Directive. This directive requires that any such measure must serve a sufficiently weighty public interest to outweigh the environmental damage, a criterion the court found was not met.

Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, both the government's legal counsel and the Minister of Climate and Environment have publicly stated that operations will not cease. EFTA has posed four specific questions to the government, including whether the company is still dumping mining waste and, if so, under what legal authority.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment confirmed receipt of EFTA's letter and stated it would respond by the July 3 deadline. The EFTA Court had previously ruled last year that mere profitability is not a sufficient justification for such environmental impacts.