The EU's response to China's industrial offensive has been presented: With the Industrial Accelerator Act, the Commission proposes the introduction of Union origin and low-carbon requirements in public procurement, designed to ensure that a certain share of products and key components are produced in Europe and not in third countries – such as China. The proposal also entails mandatory screening of foreign direct investments and streamlined permit-granting procedures for strategic sectors.

Interest in Norwegian defence industry has never been greater. The supplier industry and technology companies are positioning themselves as defence suppliers, and investors are identifying the sector as an attractive segment. Norway does not currently have a general regime for investment screening for suppliers to the defence sector, but the regulatory landscape is more extensive than many expect and subject to pending legislative changes.

From 1 January 2026, new guidelines for procurement in the defence sector (RAF) apply in Norway. The new rules replace the previous procurement guidelines (ARF) and apply to the Ministry of Defence and its subordinate agencies, including the Norwegian Armed Forces, the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.

In Norway, the public sector spends billions each year on defence and security procurements. An external working group has now presented a proposal for a new act on defence and security procurements. The proposed act will apply to all public procurement in the defence and security sector, including weapons, ammunition, war materials, technology, and other essential services.

This week, the Investment Control Commission – appointed by the Norwegian government in 2022 – delivered its report concerning Norway's foreign direct investment laws. The report proposes significant changes to the current system, ostensibly in order to protect national security interests, and would bring Norway's rules on FDI more in line with some of its European neighbours.

There is no doubt that offshore wind needs considerable public support in order to be financially viable. However, such support must first pass the threshold of EEA state aid law. How can state aid for offshore wind be granted legally, and what sources of state aid are available in Norway and the EU?

Patrick Oware had heard rumours that you get your required procedural experience quickly in Wikborg Rein, but he had never thought it would go this fast.

Competition Law

Defence and Security

Dispute Resolution

Environment, Climate, and Sustainability

Foreign direct investment and national security

Information Technology

Life sciences and healthcare

Procurement

State Aid and EU/EEA

Construction

Industry

Infrastructure

Real Estate

Renewable Energy and Green Investments

Technology and Digitalisation

Transport

Senior Associate

Patrick specialises in public procurement law and state aid law.

He has extensive expertise in all aspects of the procurement process, having handled procurements of goods, services and construction projects for major Norwegian public contracting authorities across various sectors. Patrick advises both contracting authorities and suppliers on advisory matters, legal assessments and dispute resolution, including complaints from suppliers to contracting authorities, complaints to the Norwegian Public Procurement Complaints Board (KOFA), applications for interim injunctions and ordinary litigation.

Within state aid law, Patrick has broad experience with complex state aid issues, including assessments of whether public measures constitute state aid, application of the rules for lawful state aid, and the interplay between public procurement rules and state aid rules. He also has experience with several complex complaint procedures and investigation cases before the EFTA Surveillance Authority.

Patrick regularly works on matters related to the Norwegian Security Act, including ownership control and FDI screening.

Oslo

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Patrick mainly works with public procurement law and state aid law. He assists public and private entities with advisory services, legal assessments and dispute resolution in all areas of public procurement and state aid law.