Highlighting Different Arctic Perspectives in Ongoing EU Negotiations

The seminar, organised by the Northern Sparsley Populated Areas (NSPA), together with the EU missions of Quebec, Canada, and the Faroe Islands, was part of the official programme of the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions.

The purpose of the seminar was to highlight the specific local and regional circumstances of the Arctic at a time when the region faces significant challenges. At the same time, the EU was working on an updated Arctic strategy, with a stronger focus on security policy and the importance of cooperation with neighbouring countries and regions in the Arctic, that was released one week after the EWRC. Negotiations are also under way on the EU’s next long-term budget, including various forms of support for regional development and cross-border cooperation. It is important that these measures also reflect the needs and circumstances of the Arctic.

Among the 140 participants attending the event were representatives of various EU institutions.

The discussion, titled “Towards a Secure, Sustainable and Prosperous Arctic Region”, gave Arctic regional stakeholders the opportunity to discuss how EU regional policy can support sustainable development in the Arctic together with representatives of the European Commission and the European Policy Centre.

The panel consisted of Moray Gilland, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO); Maria Martisiute, representative of the European Policy Centre (EPC); Åsa Ågren Wikström, Vice-Chair of the Regional Development Board of Region Västerbotten and a member of the European Committee of the Regions; Riikka Pirkkalainen, Regional Mayor of Kainuu, Finland; Monica Paulsen, Director of Arctic Cluster Team, Norway; Patrick Beauchesne, CEO of Société du Plan Nord, Quebec; and Elisabeth F. Rasmussen, Director of the Faroe Islands’ EU Delegation.

Many Different Arctics Under Intense Geopolitical Pressure

The panel discussion opened with Mikael Janson emphasising that the Arctic is not simply a cold place far away. It is a region with unique conditions and innovative people, and its character varies considerably from one area to another. The Arctic offers opportunities for peaceful cooperation, as well as resources and solutions for the green transition and resilience. However, it is facing increasing external pressure.

“To prevent externally driven interests from leading to local conflicts, resources are needed to build local capacity for development, particularly in communities that are often small and vulnerable,” Mikael said.

Maria Martisiute from the European Policy Centre, one of Brussels’ leading think tanks, opened with reflections on Arctic developments from both EU and global perspectives. She emphasised that the political climate is changing faster in the Arctic than anywhere else. She also explained how other countries are attempting to assert claims over the Arctic through aggressive means, posing a challenge to both the EU and NATO, but above all to local communities.

But how well prepared are local communities to withstand these pressures? Maria argued that the EU must work with the European Arctic to address these challenges, and that greater attention should also be paid to space and the oceans.

Regional Perspectives on the Arctic’s Challenges and Opportunities

Åsa Ågren Wikström then highlighted the importance of retaining EU’s dedicated allocation for the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA). This funding is an EU instrument designed to support its own Arctic regions, and removing it could have serious consequences for those regions.

Åsa identified limited capacity, long distances and a lack of complementary investment as key regional challenges. She also stressed that investments and initiatives in NSPA regions must benefit local people.

She emphasised that the Arctic needs long-term commitment from the EU and that a balance must be struck between Europe’s needs and local interests and rights. She further argued that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work, particularly in the Arctic.

She also pointed out that Arctic regions differ from one another. Regional capacity and place-based approaches must therefore be strengthened if these regions are to continue contributing solutions to EU-wide challenges, including the green transition.

Riikka Pirkkalainen, Regional Mayor of Finland’s Kainuu region, which borders Russia, also stressed the importance of retaining the NSPA’s dedicated allocation in the EU’s next long-term budget. Kainuu is currently transitioning away from traditional industries, and EU funding can help support industrial investment and the green transition. Such funding can also help the region cope with its vulnerable position on the Russian border, where the closure of the border has fundamentally changed local conditions and had a severe economic impact.

Monica Paulsen, Manager of Arctic Cluster Team, brought a clear industrial perspective to the discussion. She highlighted the pressure facing European industry and the need to make better use of existing industrial capacity to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. The Arctic has important assets to contribute, including renewable energy, critical minerals, low-carbon materials, advanced manufacturing and industrial expertise. However, realising this potential requires investment not only in industry, but also in people, infrastructure, energy and local development capacity.

Furthermore, she underlined that Arctic businesses need to have the same opportunities to grow and develop within the EU single market as businesses elsewhere in Europe. Strengthening industrial value chains while investing in local communities is essential to Europe’s long-term competitiveness, security of supply and strategic autonomy.

Patrick Beauchesne represented Quebec in the panel discussion. Although Quebec is part of the global Arctic rather than the European Arctic, he shared insights into the region of Nunavik, in northern Quebec, which is home to Inuit communities. Nunavik can only be reached by boat or plane, and all goods, including food and medicine, must be transported by these means, Patrick explained. He added that the region is affected by climate change and has substantial deposits of critical and strategic minerals.

Quebec has implemented a sustainability plan and is working to protect the Inuit people’s traditional way of life and culture. Patrick explained that the region has found ways to work together with Indigenous communities to address the challenges and opportunities it faces. Like Åsa, he emphasised that regional development must benefit the people who live in the region, while also protecting the environment and biodiversity.

Elisabeth F. Rasmussen, Director at the Mission of the Faroe Islands to the EU, represented the Faroe Islands. She highlighted that the islands face challenges similar to those described by the other panellists. She argued that it is important to turn these challenges into strengths. Although the Faroe Islands are not an EU member, they participate in research programmes such as Horizon Europe and hope to join Erasmus+ in the near future.

Elisabeth also emphasised that investment in infrastructure is fundamental to maintaining strong total defence and civil preparedness, both in the Faroe Islands and in other countries and regions of the European Arctic.

All the panellists stressed that investment in the Arctic should be seen both as a tool for regional development and as a means of building sustainable societies capable of withstanding crises and war.

Such investment is also essential to maximising the benefits of public spending and safeguarding the EU’s interests in what is known as strategic autonomy: securing access to essential resources from within Europe and from neighbouring, like-minded Arctic regions. This is particularly important for security policy in an already vulnerable region, where Russian aggression could become a reality and where China and the United States are clearly asserting their interests, with direct negative consequences for Europe as a whole.

The EU’s Role in the Arctic Must Be Highlighted: A Secure Arctic Means a Secure Europe

Following the presentations of the different regional perspectives, Moray Gilland, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), was invited to respond to the points raised by the other panellists and to comments submitted by the audience.

The audience’s contributions were collected using Slido, allowing participants to share their thoughts and respond to questions posed by moderator Mikael Janson. Their responses were displayed on screens and used to inform the panel discussion.

Moray Gilland responded to the panellists’ and audience’s comments by noting that the European Commission has been proactive in securing funding for Arctic communities through the NSPA’s dedicated allocation and Interreg projects across the European Arctic, including areas beyond EU Member States.

Finally, Moray emphasised the importance of reporting on work carried out at the regional and local levels. Without this information, he explained, the European Commission cannot know what the priorities should be.

He also noted that the policies of US President Donald Trump have created momentum for raising the profile of Arctic perspectives within the EU. He stressed the importance of continued EU support and of developing cooperation between Arctic regions across a wider range of areas. Among other responsibilities, he oversees the EU’s Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme, which forms part of EU regional policy.

Mikael noted that explicitly thanking Trump for anything might not be an obvious choice. Nevertheless, the Arctic is undeniably at the centre of global developments: what happens globally has immediate local effects, and what happens locally has immediate global effects. As the panel illustrated through its broad range of perspectives, the Arctic is very much at the centre of what might otherwise be considered the periphery.

There is concern about the future direction of EU support for local and regional development amid the focus on major geopolitical issues. Yet the panel’s message was clear: alongside the many challenges, there are also significant opportunities and potential that deserve further attention and cooperation.

A secure, sustainable and competitive Arctic is also key to a secure Europe.

From Challenges to Opportunities Through Cooperation

The word clouds displayed on screens during the discussion reflected the audience’s changing perspectives. Initially, the Arctic was associated with polar ice and geopolitics. By the final question, which focused on opportunities and challenges, the emphasis had clearly shifted towards the opportunities available and the need for more infrastructure, investment and cooperation.

Participants agreed that the EU has an important role to play as a facilitator of cooperation, both among its own European Arctic regions and with the wider global Arctic, as demonstrated by the participation of representatives from Quebec and the Faroe Islands.

Mikael concluded the seminar by referring to remarks made by Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland at the first EU Arctic Forum, held in Umeå in 2019 on invitation of North Sweden European Office together with Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Her words remain just as relevant today:

“Perhaps the link between Canada and Europe is no longer so much a transatlantic one as an Arctic one?!”