Today, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a new Strategy for the Arctic. The Strategy presents a new framework of political cooperation for like-minded partners that places people, security, climate and prosperity at its core. It has four priorities: strengthening security and resilience, responding to climate change in the Arctic, prosperity, and opportunities for people and communities in the Arctic.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said: "The Arctic is Europe's Northern Neighbourhood - close, connected and critical to our future. And it is changing. New shipping routes and resources are driving strategic competition. With our new Strategy, we are investing in stronger security, resilient infrastructure and economic opportunities. For the benefit of the people who call the Arctic home, and for our shared space."
The EU is part of the Arctic: more than half a million EU citizens live there. With the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland and Sweden as Arctic EU Member States, and close ties with Norway, Iceland, the UK, Canada and the United States, the developments in the Arctic directly affect Europe's security, the climate, and our prosperity.
The Arctic is changing fast. It is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, affecting ecosystems, changing livelihoods and communities. New shipping routes and uncovering resources are reshaping Arctic's security and economic landscape, resulting in increasing geopolitical tensions, strategic competition and military activity.
Following extensive consultations with Arctic stakeholders, the Strategy proposes concrete measures to promote a stable and future-proof Arctic, in close cooperation with Arctic partners, local communities including Indigenous Peoples and in their interest.
The new Strategy sets out four priorities in response to this evolving context:
- Strengthening security and resilience in the Arctic
The EU will work with Member States, Arctic partners and in complementarity with NATO, to improve preparedness, protect critical infrastructure and strengthen Europe's ability to operate in Arctic conditions, including by expanding European icebreaker capacity.
The EU will promote Arctic-ready, dual-use and multi-purpose capabilities that benefit local communities, the Arctic and the EU. It will also focus on long-term situational preparedness and responsiveness by ensuring supply chain resilience, protecting northern maritime borders, and safeguarding critical subsea infrastructure.
To advance shared situational awareness and vigilance, a new Maritime Security Hub will support Member States and partners in sharing information and improving monitoring of maritime activities in the Arctic. As a first step, the EU will support the establishment of an Arctic Cable Hub to monitor, protect and help repair submarine cables in the North Atlantic and Arctic. It will also invest in smart technologies to detect potential threats to this critical infrastructure. The Hub will be further developed to include tracking shadow fleet vessels, detecting illegal fishing and pollution, and improving search and rescue coordination.
- Responding to accelerating climate change
The Arctic is experiencing climate change on an unprecedented scale, warming nearly four times faster than the global average. As a global climate regulator, these changes also have consequences far beyond the Arctic, including rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. These effects are being directly felt across Europe. From deadly heatwaves to changes in ecosystems, Europe is warming at twice the global rate.
The EU will strengthen climate research, observation and monitoring to better understand these changes and support effective responses.
Among other initiatives, the EU will work with Member States and partners on data sharing through OceanEye , the EU's new ocean monitoring and observation initiative. This will help improve climate predictions, strengthen maritime safety and support efforts to adapt to climate change.
- Building a prosperous and economically secure Arctic
Opportunities for economic cooperation are emerging in the Arctic in renewable energy, critical raw materials, dual-use transport, digital connectivity and sustainable marine industries. The EU will support sustainable economic development that creates jobs, improves infrastructure and connectivity to the benefits of Arctic communities and European businesses.
The EU will work to integrate European infrastructure, such as ports, rail connections, energy terminals, satellite and digital infrastructure into emerging Arctic trade and transport networks. This will create better connections to the European markets and beyond, while strengthening new supply chains.
Transport connectivity is essential for economic development, military mobility and regional cohesion. The EU will strengthen transport connectivity towards the Arctic by upgrading the European Transport Corridors to dual-use standards, and speeding up the implementation of the Rail Nordica project.
The EU will also support secure, resilient submarine cable connectivity through the Pan-Arctic Cable, linking Greenland directly to Europe. At the same time, it will provide secure satellite connectivity for government communications through IRIS² Arctic Connectivity.
Building on the already existing cooperation, the EU will continue supporting the Arctic to develop its renewable energy and sustainable minerals potential. In line with the 2021 Joint Communication on the Arctic, the EU's position remains clear on ensuring that oil, coal and gas stay in the ground, including in Arctic regions.
A new EU Polar Research Hub will strengthen the link between science and policy. By reinforcing the European Polar Coordination Office, it will better connect research, observation and scientific infrastructure, improve access to research resources and strengthen coordination with stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples. This will support better informed decisions and scientific innovation.
- Creating opportunities for people and communities in the Arctic
The future of the Arctic must be shaped together with the people who live and work there. The Strategy places local communities, young people and Indigenous Peoples at the centre of the EU's approach, with a focus on education, employment, skills and social inclusion.
In this regard, the EU will strengthen Erasmus+ opportunities for Arctic young people through exchanges and skills development. The EU will also continue regular Arctic Youth Policy Dialogues and establish a Youth Sounding Board in Greenland.
Arctic regional development already benefits from over €1 billion in EU cohesion support for the 2021–2027 period. The EU will continue supporting Arctic local governments in addressing shared challenges and exchange knowledge on climate resilience, education, youth engagement and sustainable local development. As a concrete example, the EU will expand existing cooperation via the Arctic Mayors' Forum, which will gather local governments from across the Arctic.
The Arctic is also home of vibrant democracies. They however face similar external threats, such as on the integrity of their information space. The EU will work with Arctic partners and communities to strengthen democratic resilience, including by countering foreign information manipulation and interference and disinformation.
The EU will also continue to deepen engagement and dialogue with Arctic communities, and in particular with young people, to ensure their needs and ambitions continue to shape the work in the Arctic.
Background
The new Arctic Strategy builds on the issues identified by the EU's 2021 Arctic policy and responds to the major geopolitical, security and environmental changes that have taken place since then. The EU has longstanding political, economic, environmental and societal ties with the Arctic.
The Strategy was prepared following extensive consultations with governments, local communities including Indigenous Peoples, young people, businesses and researchers across the Arctic. This includes outreach by Jyrki Katainen in his role as Special Adviser for the EU-Arctic relations. These contributions have helped shape an approach that combines Europe's strategic interests with the priorities and ambitions of the people who live in the Arctic.
