ROADMAP

Roadmaps aim to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission's work in order to allow them to provide feedback and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have.

Title of the initiative

Arctic matters and the Northern Dimension – Update of the EU Arctic Policy

Lead DG – responsible unit

Responsible: EEAS - EURCA.EAST.1

Co responsible: MARE

Likely Type of initiative

Joint Communication

Indicative Planning

Q4 2021

Additional Information

https://eeas.europa.eu/arctic-policy/eu-arctic-policy_en

This Roadmap is provided for information purposes only and its content might change. It does not prejudge the final decision of the Commission on whether this initiative will be pursued or on its final content. All elements of the initiative described by the Roadmap, including its timing, are subject to change.

A. Context, Problem definition and Subsidiarity Check

Context [max 10 lines]

The EU has a long-standing interest in the Arctic region, substantiated by its geographical presence there, the effects of EU law and policy on the Arctic region, and the impact of a changing Arctic in times of climate change.

The main document setting out the EU Arctic Policy is the Joint Communication published in 2016 1 . Since then, environmental, economic and political developments have altered key aspects of the challenges that the EU is facing in the Arctic context.

In 2019 Council conclusions invited the Commission and the High Representative to continue to implement the EU Arctic Policy, and to initiate a process to update it 2 .

In January 2020 the European Parliament through its resolution on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy also called the EU for a renewed engagement towards the Arctic 3 .

In her letter of intent to the European Parliament and the German Presidency, the President of the Commission announced the policy initiatives for 2021, where the Joint communication on the Arctic and Northern dimension policy features under the priority for a stronger Europe in the world.

Problem the initiative aims to tackle [max 25 lines]

New challenges and opportunities are presenting themselves, for example in light of climate change and consequently receding sea ice, or the ever-increasing geo-political importance of this region. 

The current EU Arctic Policy focuses on three areas, which remain relevant but would need to be revisited in light of the new challenges.

First, climate change and environmental protection is a particularly important, pressing and more valid challenge nowadays. It is at the core of the policy objectives of the Commission.

Second, sustainable development reflects the fact that the people living in Arctic regions have legitimate socio-economic aspirations and that resources should be developed sustainably.

Third, enhanced international cooperation and coordination on Arctic issues is paramount, because matters of importance to the Arctic are handled in many, very different fora. International and geopolitical interest in the Arctic has also grown steadily since 2016.

Finally, across these three focus areas, science and research are particularly important, as are the rights of indigenous peoples. Last but not least, the Arctic policy would need to be aligned and reflect the Green Deal priorities.

Basis for EU intervention (legal basis and subsidiarity check) [max 10 lines]

This initiative does not create a new policy, but updates an existing one.

Some of the policy areas for EU intervention in the Arctic are shared or even exclusive EU competences (e.g. fisheries). EU funding programmes play an important role in the development and protection of the Arctic region.

The EU is obliged under Article 220 TFEU to maintain appropriate forms of cooperation with international organisations. Arctic matters are dealt with notably within the Arctic Council, but the EU is also active in the Northern Dimension policy framework, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (Arctic-specific fora) and other regional and multilateral settings (including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biodiversity, the International Maritime Organisation, and the Convention on the Law of Seas).

EU action supports work of the EU Member States of the abovementioned fora and will target areas where the EU has clear competence and can bring benefit.

B. What does the initiative aim to achieve and how [max 25 lines]

The current EU Arctic Policy focuses on three areas, which remain relevant but would need to be revisited.

The EU’s approach in the Arctic needs to be updated:

a) to take full account of Arctic-relevant priorities within the EU’s ambitions under the European Green Deal;

b) to take account of developments in the context of climate change such as environmental pressure, interest in Arctic resources and access routes, investors’ engagement in local communities, and increased need for science and research.

c) to reflect on a number of issues not addressed in the 2016 Joint Communication.

While the 2016 Joint Communication covered a large number of policy areas where the EU is active in the Arctic, it could now be pertinent to include some new areas in light of the current climatic challenge and Green Deal priorities.

Since 2016 it became evident that in order to deal efficiently with the pressing challenge of climate change, we would need to deal with EU’s direct effect on much of the European Arctic, as well as include new areas of action.

On one hand, the EU has unique expertise in key innovative areas, such as circular economy, carbon-neutral technologies/research, or green innovation. On the other hand, the EU must be present in the Arctic as an advocate for multilateralism and regional cooperation.

C. Better regulation

Consultation of citizens and stakeholders [max 10 lines]

The Commission launched a public consultation on 21 July 2020. The input gained by 10 November 2020 will be a good basis for a sound reflection on the current and future challenges in the Arctic. It will enable an informed decision on possible future actions.

The consultation will contribute to:

-re-examine the role of the EU in Arctic affairs;

-revise the three priorities of the 2016 Joint Communication on an integrated European Union policy for the Arctic, and the actions thereunder; and

-identify possible new policy areas to be developed.

Stakeholders within and beyond the EU including public authorities, policy-makers, international organisations, NGOs, financial institutions, and academic, scientific, social and economic partners have been invited to participate. The public consultation is organised through EU Survey, made available online for 17 weeks.

In order to promote the public consultation we approach our stakeholders in various manners.

-First, through advertising the initiative through the website of DG MARE, the Arctic web run by the EEAS, the MARE Newsletter, HaveYourSay, and relevant social media (including the twitter/facebook/instagram accounts of MARE, EEAS, and Michael Mann, EU Special Envoy for Arctic Matters).

-Second, we sent out the link and an invitation by e-mail to participate to a network of Arctic policy correspondents in the Member States.

-Third, we sent targeted email invitations to relevant stakeholders, including EU Member States’ public administrations, think tanks, research institutes, and relevant NGOs.

-Finally, we publicised the public consultation at every event and fora relevant for the Arctic that the EU is taking part in.

The working language of the Arctic policy is English. However, responses in any of the EU official languages are accepted.

In addition to the online public consultation, targeted consultation takes place during events and webinars in various fora throughout 2020-2021. Depending on the COVID restrictions, the Arctic Forum and the Indigenous Peoples forum will also be held in the second half of 2021.

Evidence base and data collection [max 10 lines]

Another element that would feed into the Joint Communication is the study commissioned by the Commission on the overview of actions of the EU in the Arctic and their impact.

No impact assessment has been planned as no legislative impacts are expected at this stage.