Arctic Connections

Policy frameworks for regional co-operation

TOWARDS AN EU POLICY and the ARCTIC

INFORMATION CENTRE INITIATIVE

Jaime Reynolds DG Environment June 2014

Towards an EU Arctic Policy

2008

• Communication 'EU and the Arctic Region'• 2009 Council Conclusions, 2011 EP

Resolution

2012

• Communication 'Progress and next steps'• 2014 EP Resolution, 2014 Council

Conclusions

2015

• 'Proposals for the further development of an integrated and coherent Arctic Policy'

The EU approach2012 Communication

Knowledge

• Addressing environmental and climate changes

Responsibility

• Economic development based on sustainable use of resources and environmental expertise

Engagement

• Dialogue with Arctic States, indigenous peoples, other stakeholders

The EU contribution

Fighting climate change

Environmental policy

Arctic environment -

research

Investing in sustainable

development in the North

Monitoring and

assessment

Shipping and maritime

safety

Preparatory Action – Strategic Assessment of Development in the Arctic

• 2012 EU budget €1 million initiated by EP• December 2012 - October 2014• Managed by DG Environment for the Commission• European Arctic focus: Greenland to Urals• Conduct Strategic Assessment of Arctic development• Test feasibility of Arctic Information Centre idea• Final Workshop 'The EU in the Arctic, the Arctic in the EU',

Brussels 11 September 2014• http://www.arcticinfo.eu/en/the-project/about-the-project

Arctic Information Centre initiative

• Launched 2009• Led by Arctic Centre University of Lapland• Network: 18 centres of research and

communication• Not research co-ordination• Knowledge/policy boundary• Communication and awareness• Serving and stimulating dialogue

Preparatory Action – main outputs

Main outputs:• Strategic Impact assessment• Stakeholder consultation• Gap Analysis• Arctic Initiatives Compendium• Network Feasibility Analysis• Outreach and Communication

2014 Council Conclusions

"the Council looks forward to the results of the preparatory action…[and] requests the Commission to consider the options proposed by this project to establish an EU Arctic Information Centre to promote efficient access to Arctic information, to facilitate dialogues and to communicate on Arctic issues".

ARC and AIC

• Interface: distinct or complementary?• Scope – functionally and geographically?• Value for money: how to achieve aims most

efficiently?• Political support: Arctic and non-Arctic• Structures: formal/light, sustainability,

governance?