SEMINAR
THE EU IN THE ARCTIC, THE ARCTIC IN THE EU
Program
Brussels, 11 September 2014
Understanding the EU’s impact on the Arctic starts with an efficient and effective use of scientific and fact-based information. Combining this scientific understanding with Arctic stakeholders’ in-depth knowledge and experience is crucial in properly addressing the challenges the Arctic will face. Only by effectively applying this information and engaging stakeholders from all backgrounds and levels (local, regional and global) can one fully comprehend the complexity of the changes happening in the Arctic and create a roadmap for the sustainable development of the region.
The EU aims to be on the front lines when it comes to fostering sustainable Arctic development. By combining the different viewpoints of a wide variety of Arctic stakeholders, the EU-funded “Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of development of the Arctic” project has helped to clarify some of the most important Arctic development trends. This seminar will discuss the role of the EU in the Arctic, as well as the role of the Arctic in the EU. It will investigate information-sharing, policy-making and decision-making with the aim of further bridging current gaps between the Arctic and the EU.
In the opening policy session of the seminar, four keynote speakers will present their unique perspectives of the Arctic, after which, a number of experts will lead engaging discussions on the important ongoing developments in the region. In the afternoon, members of the EUAIC consortium will present the results of the project’s insightful assessments, and examine information and communication gaps about the Arctic. The consortium will also present a compendium that outlines current Arctic initiatives and projects going on in European countries.
PROGRAMME
11 September 2014
09:00 – 09:10 | Opening & welcome Hannu Halinen, Arctic Ambassador of Finland |
09:10 - 09:30 | The Arctic from the Perspective of the North Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland |
09:35 - 09:55 | The Arctic from the Perspective of the EU Luis Felipe Fernández de la Peña, Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, European External Action Service |
10:00 - 10:20 | International Cooperation in the Arctic: The Canadian Perspective Alan Bowman, Deputy Head of Mission, Mission of Canada to the European Union |
10:25 - 10:45 | People in the Arctic Lars Anders Baer, Senior member of the Working Group of Indigenous Peoples, Barents Euro-Arctic Council |
10:45 - 11:15 | Coffee break |
11:15 - 11:25 | EU Arctic Information Centre - feasibility analysis Paula Kankaanpää, Director, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland |
11:30 - 12:00 | Role of EU in the Arctic Panel of Members of the European Parliament: Chair Markku Heikkilä, Head of Science Communication, Arctic Center, University of Lapland Anneli Jäätteenmäki, MEP Jens Nilsson, MEP Liisa Jaakonsari, MEP |
12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch |
13:00 - 13:45 | Role of information in decision making and Arctic policies Panel of the EUAIC Network Chair Björn Dahlbäck, Director, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat Roberto Azzolini, European Polar Board, European Science Foundation Jean-Claude Gascard, Pierre and Marie Curie University Liisa Holmberg, Sámi Education Institute Peter Harris, GRID-Arendal Nicole Biebow, Alfred Wegener Institute Halldór Jóhannsson, Arctic Portal Heather Lane, Scott Polar Research Institute |
13:50 - 14:00 | Strategic Assessment of development of the Arctic Adam Stępień, Researcher, Impact Assessment Expert, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland |
14:00 - 15:00 | Arctic Trends Climate change in the Arctic Mikko Strahlendorff, Finnish Meteorological Institute Changes in Arctic Maritime Transport Gunnar Sander, Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre Changing Nature of Arctic Fisheries Sigmar Arnarsson, UiT Arctic University of Norway Developing Oil and Gas Resources in Arctic Waters Michał Łuszczuk, Committee of Polar Research – Polish Academy of Sciences Mining in the European Arctic Kim van Dam and Annette Scheepstra, Arctic Centre, University of Groningen Land-Use Pressures in the European Arctic Kirsi Latola, Thule Institute of the University of Oulu, University of the Arctic Thematic Networks Social and Cultural Changes in the European Arctic Adam Stępień, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland |
15:00 - 15:10 | Conclusions and key messages Timo Koivurova, Research Professor, Senior Impact Assessment Expert, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland Discussion / Questions from the audience |
15:30 - 15:45 | Coffee break |
15:45 - 15:55 | The Arctic initiatives and projects in Europe Lize-Marie van der Watt, Research Coordinator, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat |
15:55 - 16:05 | Information and communication gaps regarding the Arctic Arne Riedel, Researcher, Ecologic Institute |
16:05 - 16:15 | Assessments in policy making in the Arctic Małgorzata Śmieszek, Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland |
16:15 - 16:45 | Discussion and closing |
17:00 - 18:00 | Reception |
Practical Information
Internationaal Perscentrum “Residence Palace”
Centre de Presse internationale “Résidence Palace”
Wetstraat 155 | 155 Rue de la Loi
1040 Brussel | 1040 Bruxelles
Tel: 00-32-(0)2-235.21.01
Getting there by car
When you arrive at the Résidence Palace, the car park “Wet/Loi” (p2) is closest. The entrance to the car park is at Etterbeeksesteenweg 25, 1040 Brussels. The car park is open Mondays to Fridays from 6:30 to 22:00.
By train
The Résidence Palace is right above Schuman station. This makes rail the most convenient way of getting to the International Press Centre. Follow the signs saying ‘Résidence Palace’ in the station and leave by the Wetstraat exit. This brings you right opposite the main entrance to the International Press Centre.
By metro
Take lines 1 or 5 to Schuman station. This station is just below the Résidence Palace. Follow the signs saying ‘Résidence Palace’ in the station and leave by the Wetstraat exit. This brings you right opposite the main entrance to the International Press Centre.
More information on Registration to the event will be provided by the beginning of August
Hosted and Designed by the Arctic Portal