In the new
EU Arctic Strategy, the European Commission highlights the growing strategic and geopolitical
importance of the Arctic. According to an estimate published in early 2022,
the EU Arctic region has an investment potential of around EUR 150 billion
by 2030, a large part of which is linked to delivering on the green
transition. The focus is on investments in carbon-neutral steel, battery
manufacturing, mineral extraction and processing, as well as the circular
economy and bio- and wind energy.
"EU funding must be targeted to support and ensure sustainable investments
in the Arctic. At the same time, it is important to strike a balance
between responsible development of natural resources and environmental
protection, in order to make full use of the Arctic's potential as a driver
of green growth and the digital transition in the EU. All activities in the
Arctic must be based on nature's resilience, climate protection and the
principles of sustainable development as well as respect for the rights of
the people and indigenous peoples living in the region", stressed the CoR
rapporteur Mirja Vehkaperä.
Climate change poses a major threat to the Arctic. Temperatures rising
three times faster than in the rest of the world, melting ice and thawing
permafrost have huge knock-on effects throughout Europe and the whole
planet. Cities and regions stress that long-term climate policies in the
Arctic must be economically, socially and territorially just.
"We need to think about how to implement the Green Deal and the Fit for 55
package, while taking into account the specific features of the EU's Arctic
area. For example, the specific conditions of winter shipping in the Arctic
must be considered in the context of emissions trading," Ms Vehkaperä said.
In terms of international cooperation, every effort should be made to
ensure that the Arctic remains safe, stable and peaceful. Even before
attacking Ukraine, Russia had increased military activity in the Arctic and
China has also increased interest in ownership of critical infrastructure
and in submarine cable construction and shipping in the Arctic Ocean.
"It is important to maintain, support and promote peaceful cooperation in
the Arctic through existing cooperation structures such as the Arctic
Council. The EU must also recognise the role of international cooperation
frameworks at local and regional level in promoting dialogue", said Mirja
Vehkaperä, citing as an example the Arctic Mayors' Forum, the
Northern Sparsely Populated Areas Network
(NSPA), the Northern Forum,
the Arctic Economic Council
and UArctic.
High-quality research and access to education and the development of
transport and network connections are key prerequisites for the vitality
and attractiveness of the Arctic. The CoR underlines the role of northern
cities in keeping the Arctic vibrant, competitive and populated, and calls
for regional education and research institutions and their networks to get
involved in developing the Arctic innovation ecosystem based on smart
specialisation strategies.
Contact:
Lauri Ouvinen
Tel. +32 473536887
lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu