JOINT COMMUNICATION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL DEVELOPING A EUROPEAN UNION POLICY TOWARDS THE ARCTIC REGION: PROGRESS SINCE 2008 AND NEXT STEPS

The long-awaited Joint Commission and High Representative Communication on „Developing a European Union Policy toward the Arctic Region“ was eventually issued on June 2012, one year later as initially requested by the Council. Following the 2009 Council‘s requests, the 2012 Communication combines a detailed report of „tangible results“ achieved in distinct Arctic-related fields since 2008, with an outline of the „way forward“ to meet the challenges of a rapidly developing Arctic.

The 2012 communication opens considering that „as climate change and economic development accelerate in the Arctic region, the European Union should step up its engagement with its Arctic partners to jointly meet the challenge of safeguarding the environment while ensuring the sustainable development of the Arctic region“.

It was underlined again „the need for a coherent, targeted EU approach towards the Arctic, building on the EU’s strengths, promoting responsible development while engaging more extensively in dialogue and cooperation with all Arctic stakeholders“. Although the objectives follow the same line as in 2008, the Commission and the High Representative have proposed to further develop the EU’s policy towards the Arctic“ by:

– Supporting research and channel knowledge to address the challenges of environmental and climate changes in the Arctic;

– Acting with responsibility to contribute to ensuring economic development in the Arctic is based on sustainable use of resources and environmental expertise;

– Intensifying its constructive engagement

The commission has indeed structured the first part of the communication following the concepts of knowledge (Developing environmental expertise and dialogue and enhancing the protection of the Arctic environment, Meeting tomorrow's challenges through research, Harnessing information)responsibility (EU funding for sustainable development, Promoting the sustainable management and use of resources) engagement (The EU intends to refine its developing Arctic policy in close cooperation with its Member States, the five non-EU Arctic states as well as local inhabitants, including indigenous peoples. Arctic states play a primary role in the region, both individually as well as in regional bodies.)

The Commission stressed again on the acknowledgement of UNCLOS as a key basis for the management of the Arctic Ocean, and on that an extensive legal framework (already) applies to the Arctic Ocean. Specifically, given the declared interest in the developing of Arctic shipping, the Commission confirmed that a key EU policy objective remains full compliance with international law and principles as defined in UNCLOS, including the principles of freedom of navigation and the right of innocent passage.

The second part of the communication responds to the Council Conclusions of December 2009, and provides a detailed summary of EU‘s contribution since 2008 to protect and preserve the Arctic in unison with its population; to promote sustainable use of natural resources, and to contribute to enhanced governance in the Arctic.

EU‘s contribution to the Arctic since 2008 is analysed in deep in the accompanying document „The inventory of activities in the framework of developing a European Union Arctic Policy“ . (This document is a European Commission and EEAS staff working document for information purposes. It does not represent an official position of the Commission and of the EEAS on this issue, nor does it anticipate such a position.)

A second accompanying document to the 2012 Commission communication, “Space and the Arctic”, is a European Commission interim report, prepared together with the European Space Agency, taking stock of current and future space programmes relevant to the Arctic region and assessing to which extent actions have been addressed following the workshop. It is a factual account showing that progress has been made in meeting these challenges and that considerable benefits to the many interests in the Arctic have accrued through collaborative programmes involving both EU and non-EU Member States.

The EP "Reiterates its call for a united EU policy on the Arctic, as well as a coherent strategy and a concretised action plan on the EU's engagement on the Arctic, with a focus on socio-economic and environmental issues; believes that this strategic choice is integral in ensuring legitimacy and local support for the EU's Arctic engagement

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