A new integrated EU policy for the Arctic

The High Representative and the Commission set out a response to the challenges of the Arctic region focusing on climate change, environmental protection, sustainable development and international cooperation. The Commission also discussed the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement.

An integrated EU policy for the Arctic

The Arctic "is a region of immense environmental, social, and economic importance to us all. The steps taken today underline our commitment to the region, its States and its peoples, and to ensuring that the region remains an example of constructive international cooperation (…)" underlined the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini i, who presented the new policy together with Karmenu Vella i, EU Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

With its policy proposal the European Union will step up its existing action and engagement in the region with 39 actions focussing on climate change, environmental protection, sustainable development and international cooperation. The particular importance of research, science and innovation is reflected across these priority areas.

In 2014, the Council and European Parliament asked the Commission and the High Representative to develop a more coherent framework for EU action and funding programmes in the Arctic. The new, integrated EU policy for the Arctic stems from that request and is to further bolster the EU's profile in the Arctic.

In recent years, the Arctic's role in climate change has become much more prominent with far-reaching consequences as the region acts as a regulator of the Earth’s climate, including the weather patterns in Europe. In past decades, the Arctic has been warming at almost twice the global average rate. Scientists have pointed out that the Arctic also contributes to climate change, due to the gradual release of methane gases as the region warms up. In turn, the climatic changes in the Arctic drive increasing economic activity in the region.

Implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement

The College was debriefed on recent high-level visits to Turkey and on the latest state of implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016.