EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION OF 20 JANUARY 2011 ON A SUSTAINABLE EU POLICY FOR THE HIGH NORTH (2009/2214(INI))
Two years later, it was again the European Parliament trying to give a new political impetus to the Arctic Policy process. The „Resolution on a sustainable development for the High North“ was indeed issued on January 2011, providing a more structured and wiser approach to Arctic issues.
In a nutshell, the Resolution considered that the European Parliament is „[c]onscious of the need to protect the fragile environment of the Arctic, underlines the importance of overall stability and peace in the region; stresses that the EU should pursue policies that ensure that measures to address environmental concerns take into account the interests of the inhabitants of the Arctic region, including its indigenous peoples, in protecting and developing the region; stresses the similarity in approach, analysis and priorities between the Commission Communication and policy documents in the Arctic States; stresses the need to engage in policies that respect the interest in sustainable management and use of the land-based and marine, non-renewable and renewable natural resources of the Arctic region, which in turn provide important resources for Europe and are a major source of income to the inhabitants of the region“.
Once again, the European Parliament stressed the need for a united, coordinated EU policy on the Arctic region, in which both the EU's priorities and the potential challenges and a strategy are clearly defined. Specifically, attention was paid to the development of shipping routes in the Arctic and, after having underlined the major importance of safety and security, the European Parliament called „on the States in the region to ensure that any current transport routes – and those that may emerge in the future – are open to international shipping and to refrain from introducing any unilateral arbitrary burdens, be they financial or administrative, that could hinder shipping in the Arctic, other than internationally agreed measures aimed at increasing security or protection of the environment“.
The resolution took up the issue of natural resources. The European Parliament, conscious of the need for resources for a growing world population and recognises the increase in interest in them as well as the sovereign rights under international law of the Arctic States, recommends any party involved to take steps to ensure the highest possible safety, social and environmental standards in exploration and exploitation of the natural resources.
The European Parliament concluded calling for a more consistent involvement and engagement on Arctic issues by the EU.
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