Opening the conference in Brussels together with High Representative and Vice President of the Commission Josep Borrell, Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius pointedly reminded the audience that “no one can address climate challenge on their own and we will all face its consequences. We must use this challenge as an opportunity to foster dialogue and cooperation”.

Commissioner Sinkevičius’ statement set the tone for two days of interventions and engaging panel debates, where climate change and its disruptive impact remained a constant theme.

In the panel session “addressing environment and climate challenges” ENV Director General Florika Fink-Hooijer highlighted that many Arctic problems originate elsewhere so the solutions must be sought outside the region. She stressed that the EU seeks solutions at EU, global, regional and bilateral level –wherever they can be effective making international collaboration essential to tackle Arctic problems. EU policies and actions can make a significant contribution to protecting the region and the European Green Deal offers a framework for a major EU contribution to Arctic Protection. 

In the panel session “Enhancing Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development”, MARE Director General, Charlina Vitcheva emphasized that the “business as usual” model is no longer sustainable and the limits of our planet are not negotiable. The discussions highlighted the need to foster international cooperation, bridge remaining knowledge gaps, tackle safety and security challenges caused by rising temperatures and permafrost thaw, and address the challenges of enhancing sustainable and inclusive development in the Arctic. In light of the urgent need to confront climate change, representatives from Finland, Sweden, Denmark and France, as well as civil society organisations like the World Wildlife Fund, endorsed the Commission and EEAS’s call for oil, gas and coal to stay in the ground, including in the Arctic.

In the first panel of the EU Arctic Forum, Ms Larsson-Blind, Vice President of the Saami Council, reminded us that “engaging in the Arctic must mean engagement with the people of the Arctic, especially Indigenous Peoples”.

The question of the engagement of local and indigenous people was at the core of all the panels of the EU Arctic Forum and was the object of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples Dialogue on 11 November.

The Dialogue addressed the need for more inclusive policy and capacity building. An important part of the discussion focused on how to work with Indigenous People in the creation, determination and execution of research programmes. The Dialogue also focused on enhancing the participation of youth in Arctic decision-making processes, fostering dialogue and collaboration among young people. In line with the discussions and to further the EU’s engagement with Arctic Indigenous youth, Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel announced the creation of an Indigenous Youth Ambassador for the Arctic.

Read more:

• Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: a Stronger EU Engagement for a Peaceful, Sustainable and Prosperous Arctic (13.10.2021)
• Press release