The State Duma appreciated the resumption of cooperation with Norway in fishing

The resumption of cooperation between Russia and Norway in fisheries, despite the European Union (EU), is rather an exception confirming the rule. Any interaction with Western countries is possible only if a number of conditions are met. Sergey Altukhov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, expressed this opinion on Friday, December 19.

According to the deputy, the concluded agreement is beneficial to Russia, as it protects specific economic interests and the industry.

"However, it is not worth extrapolating this success to other areas. Any potential interaction with Western countries, not only with Norway, but also, for example, with the United States or the EU as a whole, will be possible only if three conditions coincide," Altukhov said in an interview with Lenta.Ru .

He clarified that such conditions are an urgent mutual need, the isolation of the issue from politics, as well as the lack of alternatives for both sides.

"Isolated niches according to the fishing model are areas where cooperation is historically well—established, technical, and its curtailment hurts all sides. These are nuclear energy, Arctic ecology and navigation safety, and space. All of them are also under strong pressure from the political agenda, but a complete breakdown of ties will lead to significant losses for all," the parliamentarian stressed.

The head of Rosrybolovstvo, Ilya Shestakov, said yesterday that the Russian Federation and Norway had agreed to restore cooperation in fishing, giving Russian fishermen access to Norway's economic zone to catch cod and haddock, despite EU opposition, RT reports.

According to Shestakov, the Russian Federation was able to defend its interests within the framework of the agreement without succumbing to EU pressure. The head of Rosrybolovstvo clarified that the negotiations between the parties began after Norway imposed sanctions against two Russian fishing vessels, which deprived half of the Russian fleet of access to Norwegian territory for fishing.

In November, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries Marianne Sivertsen Ness said that the country would lose its economic benefits if Russian fishermen left the Oslo economic Zone in the Barents Sea.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.