Can the Baltic region benefit from EU’s new Arctic policy?

May 04 2016

Can the Baltic region benefit from EU’s new Arctic policy?

On April 27th, 2016, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission (EC) approved a policy proposal defining future involvement of the European Union in the Arctic area. The policy is an integrated response to the challenges ahead in the Arctic region.

The initiative consists of 39 actions focusing on climate change, environmental protection, sustainable development and international cooperation. The particular importance of research, science and innovation is reflected across these priority areas. The actions will be now further discussed with the EU Member States in the Council and the European Parliament.

Climate change and sustainability play a very important role and take a prominent spot in the policy. Growing concerns over speed of warming in the Arctic and possible global consequences cannot be left unanswered.
Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs said: “We impact on the Arctic and Arctic impacts on us. Global weather patterns, our oceans, ecosystems and local biodiversity – the Arctic influences them all. While increasing human development is inevitable, it is in our hands to do it in a sustainable way. We have to do this in full respect of the livelihoods of those who live in the region and by protecting its most valuable resource: the environment.”

Finland and Sweden and a selection of seaports from these countries are mentioned in the investment section of the joint communication document in context of their belonging to the trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) and its role in supporting sustainable transport modes and strengthening the links between maritime and land transport. The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) welcomes EC’s interest in creating an optimal, sustainable mix between different transport modes and looks forward to enhancing the cooperation between the Arctic and Baltic regions.

Bogdan Ołdakowski, the BPO Secretary General, said: “Sustainable use of the Arctic region will require an efficient transport infrastructure, including ports. Baltic region as a neighbor to the Arctic region, with its potential in ports and other relevant industries, should benefit from the development to take place in the Arctic. BPO looks forward to hearing about more concrete plans within integrated EU policy for the Arctic, especially in the area of transport infrastructure development in the Arctic and the neighboring Baltic region”.

More details can be found in the Joint Communication document. Please access it here.

Photo credit: Flickr/Mark Parsons