European Parliament Resolution on the Arctic On 7th October 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution entitled “The Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges”.
photo: © Larwim/Shutterstock
documentation
THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
[The Parliament] 1. Reaffirms that the Arctic is of strategic and political importance to the EU, as an Arctic stakeholder and global actor, and underlines the EU’s commitment
36
to being a responsible actor, seeking
tion; calls for the EU to continue to
cerned about the negative effects of
the long-term sustainable and peace-
contribute to the Arctic Council through
climate change, notably the rapidly
ful development of the region by fully
expertise and financing by increasing
melting ice and resource overexploita-
cooperating with international partners;
its engagement in the Arctic Council
tion, which create new elements and
considers it crucial that all stakehold-
working groups and its various projects;
realities for certain forms of economic
ers, including the EU and its Member
believes that the northern region should
development and further disruption
States, act to maintain peaceful and
be viewed as part of the EU’s northern
to the increasingly fragile Arctic eco-
intense international and regional coop-
neighbourhood, with increased partic-
systems;
eration, scientific research, prosperity
ipation in existing forums; highlights
8. Emphasises that the comprehensive
and low tensions in the Arctic, as well as
that the Northern Dimension serves as
governance model based on interna-
to respond to the very alarming effects
a constructive arena for cross-border
tional law has benefited all Arctic states
and consequences of climate change
cooperation, with a successful model
and the region as a whole, and has
in the region; considers that the Arctic
for sectoral cooperation, in which the
provided predictability and stability in
plays a crucial role in maintaining the
EU contributes equally to the joint pol-
the region; underlines that the existing
environmental balance of the planet,
icy with Russia, Norway and Iceland,
regional structures foster trust and
is satisfied that the region has long
as well as other observers; welcomes
cooperation between Arctic states;
been a place of peace and fruitful in-
further practical cooperation on a broad
stresses that the Arctic states hold
ternational cooperation;
range of areas; highlights the coopera-
the primary responsibility for tackling
2. Supports the validity of the three
tion between local and national state
issues within their territories; points,
founding pillars of the integrated EU
and non-state actors within the Barents
however, to the fact that external forces
policy for the Arctic, namely responding
Euro-Arctic Council, of which the EU is a
have a key impact on current and future
ambitiously to climate change and
full member, on issues with particular
challenges in the region; reiterates that
safeguarding the Arctic environment,
relevance to the Barents region; notes
international law is the cornerstone
promoting sustainable development
that the Barents Euro-Arctic Council has
of the legal framework regulating in-
and strengthening international co-
played an important role in building
ternational relations in the Arctic (…);
operation; stresses the importance
trust and mutual understanding in the
9. Recognises the status of Arctic states’
of a balanced EU Arctic policy and is
North while enhancing cooperation
sovereignty and their sovereign rights
of the opinion that the EU is uniquely
between Arctic countries; notes that
in accordance with international law;
well-placed to help coordinate and
the EU should also aim to participate
believes that safeguarding the achieve-
complement Member States’ Arctic
in other political forums linked to Arctic
ments of three decades of peaceful
policies, and therefore stresses the
development;
cooperation is crucial; stresses that
need for more coherence between the
6. Is of the opinion that the new EU Arctic
the EU’s capacity to provide solutions to
EU’s internal and external policies as
policy should be used more broadly as
potential security challenges should be
regards Arctic matters; urges the EU to
an opportunity to increase awareness
fully harnessed; underlines that, given
include an Arctic dimension wherever
and engagement among EU citizens,
the multitude of complex and inter-
appropriate in its sectoral policies;
academia and businesses as regards
twined issues related to the economic,
(…)
Arctic issues; calls for the creation
environmental and security develop-
4. Stresses that the EU must contribute
of a single Arctic portal covering all
ment of the Arctic, global, regional and
to enhanced Arctic multilateral govern-
Arctic initiatives and activities of the
local venues are required for dialogue
ance, promote the sustainable use of
EU institutions;
on the region’s security needs;”
resources, and protect and preserve
7. Notes that interest in the Arctic and
the Arctic in unison with its popula-
its resources is growing; is deeply con-
Web: https://bit.ly/3scACKH
