EU wil deelnemen aan Arctische Raad (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 7 March 2012 A

Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton i after the meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt in Kiruna, Sweden, 7 March

It's a real pleasure to be in Sweden. I'm here, as Carl has said, to tour the countries which are most connected from the European Union's perspective - and I add Norway into that - with the Arctic. I'm here so that I can better understand some of the issues as we prepare our contribution on how to best take forward the European policy on the Arctic

Equally I look forward to hopefully getting our observer status on the Arctic Council. I've met with a range of different people in Finland, I've met with the indigenous people, with the Saami people. Here I'll have an opportunity to see some of the things that are happening in the North of Sweden. It's also, I should add, a real opportunity for me to consult with some of the people who know so much about the issues I'm dealing with

It's a great trip and a great chance to have a bilateral meeting with Carl Bildt as well

We want to become an observer in the Arctic Council, not just because some of our Member States are so connected to it, but because all of the European Union has something to offer, when you think about some of the environmental issues, some of the big changes that are happening here. So I'm hopeful that we will be able to get that status soon

I believe the Arctic Council is an important way of bringing together the nations and the indigenous people of those nations, but it's also an opportunity for us all to think about the future of the Arctic. Real issues such as climate change but also real potential opportunities as well

Energy is another big issue. I'll be going today to see the important iron mine here. Trade routes as well are a very interesting issue for the countries of this region but also for world trade, because the potential of being able to use the routes of the Arctic is enormous

For Sweden this is an area that is extremely important economically. Talking with the mining industry you get the real sense that this is an industry that is growing and developing and has real potential to expand in the future. That is important for the economy of Sweden but also of course for the European economy, exporting as they do to Europe and way beyond. It is also important in the context of thinking about how this area could develop and the opportunities it provides for employment and so on. This is all very interesting to the EU with its strategy of growth for the next few years

The EU's job is to support and help the economy and the people and that is what I want to do and hopefully our policy document on the Arctic which we are preparing will reflect that