Abstract
The European non-Arctic states – the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland – are mostly experienced Arctic explorers. From the very beginning their attention to the Arctic was driven, firstly, by an interest in finding the shortest trade routes from Europe to Asia and, secondly, by scientific research. At the end of the twentieth century, the participation of European non-Arctic countries in Arctic governance began to be institutionalized – this group of countries received the status of observers in the AC. The range of their interests in the region has expanded significantly: from scientific research to security issues. Most of these European countries are the members of the European Union (EU) and provide the idea of including the EU to the Arctic governance system. The national roadmaps of the EU Arctic member states and observers are mainly driven by the EU Arctic policy framework. This chapter provides an analysis of strategic documents and a summary of the main common interests of the non-Arctic European states and the EU in the region and their activities in the Arctic.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
1st panel session: High-level Arctic event “A sustainable Arctic – Innovative approaches”. (2018). Retrieved from: https://eeas.europa.eu/arctic-policy/eu-arctic-policy/28309/1st-panel-session-high-level-arctic-event-sustainable-arctic-percentE2percent80percent93-innovative-approaches_en
Adapting To Change. (2013). UK policy towards the Arctic, Polar Regions Department. Retrieved from: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attach-ment_data/file/251216/Adapting_To_Change_UK_policy_towards_the_Arctic.pdf
Almazova-Ilyina, A. B., Gabrielian, M. O., Kulik, S. V., & Eidemiller, K. Y. (2020). The “Arctic Vector” of Spanish Foreign Policy. IOP Conference series: Earth and Environmental Science, 539, 012049.
Antyushina, N. M. (2016). Newcomer countries to the Arctic Council discover the high north. The Arctic and the North, 24, 80–95. in Russian.
Arctic Strategies: Energy, Security, Ecology and Climate. (2020). Moskva: Skolkovo. in Russian.
Auswärtiges Amt. (2013). Leitlinien Deutscher Arktispolitik: Verantwortung Übernehmen. Chancen nutzen. Berlin. Retrieved from: https://www.arctic-office.de/fileadmin/user_upload/www.arcticoffice.de/PDF_uploads/Leitlinien_deutscher_Arktispolitik.pdf.
Beyond the Ice. (2018). UK Policy towards the Arctic. Retrieved from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beyond-the-ice-uk-policy-towards-the-arctic
Brocza, S., & Brocza, A. (2018). Less EU in the Arctic region after 2020. Briefing notes. Retrieved from: https://arcticyearbook.com/arctic-yearbook/2018/2018-briefing-notes/298-less-eu-in-the-arctic-region-after-2020.
Caruso, A. (2014). La Geopolitica Dell’Artico. Retrieved from: http://italian.ruvr.ru/2014_06_16/La-geopolitica-dell-Artico-2004/. in Italian.
Eremina, N. V. (2019). Arctic policy of the European Union: Tasks and problems. Oykumena. Regionovedcheskiye issledovaniya, 4, 30–39. in Russian.
Eremina, N. (2021). UK-Russia relations in the Arctic: From damage limitation to a cooperative agenda? The Polar Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2021.1932270
Eremina, N. V., & Mezhevich, N. M. (2020). Britain’s Arctic strategy: Vision of 2018–2019. Contemporary Europe, 1, 25–37. in Russian.
Estermann, S. (2019). Full speech 2019 at the Arctic Circle Assembly. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKxrRHYo5Xk
EU Arctic Policy. (2021). European External Action Service (EEAS). Retrieved from: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/20956/arctic-short-introduction_en
European Polar Board. (2021). The EU Arctic cluster. Implementing the European Arctic Policy and fostering international cooperation. Retrieved from: https://www.europeanpolarboard.org/fileadmin/user_upload/EU-Arctic-Cluster_Webinar.pdf
Factsheet. (2016). The Netherlands and the Arctic. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.netherlandsandyou.nl
Gadal, S. (2015). French interests in the Arctic. A paper delivered at the Arctic Politics in the 21st century International Round Table. St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg State University.
Germany is Taking on More Responsibility for the Arctic. (2019). Federal Foreign Office. Retrieved from: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/themen/internatrecht/einzelfragen/arctic-guidelines/2240000
Germany’s Arctic Policy Guidelines. (2019). Assuming responsibility, creating trust, shaping the future. Retrieved from: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/2240002/eb0b681be9415118ca87bc8e215c0cf4/arktisleitlinien-data.pdf
Głowacki, P. (2021). Polar research as a bridge for a strengthening of International Cooperation for Polish Science. Narodowej Agencji Wymiany Akademickiej (NAWA). Retrieved from: https://nawa.gov.pl/snapy/eseje-en/polar-research-as-a-bridge-for-a-strengthening-of-international-cooperation-for-polish-science
Graczyk, G. (2012). Poland and the Arctic: Between science and diplomacy. Arctic Yearbook. Retrieved from: https://arcticyearbook.com/arctic-yearbook/2012/2012-scholarly-papers/14-poland-and-the-arctic-between-science-and-diplomacy.
Grinyaev, S. N., Shevchenko, A. V., & Onishuk, S. M. (2014). Observer States in the Arctic Council: Positions and motives. Moscow. In Russian.
Guidelines for a Spanish Polar Strategy. (2016). Gobierno de Espana. Retrieved from: http://www.idi.mineco.gob.es/stfls/MICINN/Investigacion/FICHEROS/Comite_Polar_definitivo/Directrices_estrategia_polar_espanola.pdf
Guidelines of the Germany Arctic Policy. (2013). Federal Foreign Office. Retrieved from: http://www.bmel.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/International/LeitlinienArktispolitik.pdf?__blob=publicationFil
Integrated Arctic Policy. (2016). Retrieved from: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-europe-as-a-stronger-global-actor/file-integrated-arctic-policy
International Cooperation on Arctic Matters. (2017). Retrieved from: https://eeas.europa.eu/arctic-policy/eu-arctic-policy/20954/international-cooperation-arctic-matters_en
Kotov, A. (2021). The Arctic vector of Germany’s Foreign Policy. Nauchno-analiticheskiy vestnik IE RAN, 2, 50. in Russian.
Lagutina, M. (2016). France’s new role in the Arctic. RIAC. Retrieved from: https://russiancouncil.ru/en/analytics-and-comments/analytics/novaya-rol-frantsii-v-arktike/
Le Grand Défi de L’arctique. (2016). Feuille de Route Nationale sur l’arctique. Ministère Des Affaires Etrangères et du Développement International. Retrieved from: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/frna_-_vf_-17-06-web-bd_cle8b359f.pdf. in French.
Lipponen, P. (2015). For an ambitious EU Arctic and Northern Policy. Memorandum to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Retrieved from: https://www.arcticrailway.as/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2015-Paavo-Lipponen-memorandum-2015.pdf.
Łuszczuk, M. (2012). Poland’s approach towards the Arctic region: An insignificant dream or a meaningful contribution? Arctic forum lecture series. Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Schulich School of Law, April 27. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230692033_Poland's_approach_towards_the_Arctic_region_an_insignificant_dream_or_a_meaningful_contribution
Mann, M. (2021). EU special representative for the Arctic: The European Union intends to work closely with Moscow during the Russian Chairmanship in the Arctic Council. Interfax. Retrieved from: https://www.interfax.ru/interview/756798
National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. (2015). A secure and prosperous United Kingdom. London: Crown Copyright. Retrieved from: www.gov.uk/government/publications
Nederlandse Polaire Strategie 2016–2020 ‘Samen voor Duurzaam’. Retrieved from: https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/documenten/publicaties/2020/03/06/nederlandse-polaire-strategie-2016-2020
Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme 2014–2020. Retrieved from: http://www.interreg-npa.eu/?id=11
Novello, G. (2014). Speech at Arctic circle 2014 “Italy in the Arctic”. Retrieved from: http://vimeo.com/111399255
Perez, C. E., & Yaneva, Z. V. (2016). The European Arctic Policy in progress. Polar Science, 10(3), 441–449.
Poland’s Policy towards the Arctic. (2015). Key areas and priority actions. PISM Policy Papers, 11(113). Retrieved from: http://www.msz.gov.pl/resource/abfa22ccd964-4f87-b9ac-65c14af46a7d:JCR
Select Committee of the Arctic – Report of Session 2014–2015. The UK and the Arctic. Retrieved from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldselect/ldarctic/118/11809.html
Strategy for Polish Polar Research 2017–2027. Retrieved from: https://www.pkpolar.pl/eng/strategy/
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (2021). Retrieved from: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030percent20Agendapercent20forpercent20Sustainablepercent20Developmentpercent20web.pdf
The Climate Challenge in the Arctic. (2013). Environmental impacts, new opportunities and future policy options: Interview with Peter Wadhams. University of Cambridge. Retrieved from: http://www.feem.it/getpage.aspx?id=6007&sez=Forpercent20thepercent20media&padre=22&idsub=108
The EU Intends to Work Closely with Moscow during the Russian Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. (2021). Interfax. Retrieved from: https://www.interfax.ru/interview/756798. in Russian.
The Great Challenge of the Arctic. (2016). National roadmap for the Arctic. Ministère des Affaires étrangères de la France. Retrieved from: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/frna_-_eng_-interne_-_prepa_-_17-06-pm-bdpdf_cle02695b.pdf
The Netherlands’ Polar Strategy 2021–2025. Prepared for Change, Government.nl. Retrieved from: https://www.government.nl, polar-strategy.
Todorov, A. A. (2018). Interests of Switzerland in the Arctic. Rossiyskaya Arktika, 1, 4–7. In Russian.
Tornetto, M. (2014). From the Heart of the Mediterranean to the North Pole: Italy’s commitment on the Arctic region. The Arctic Herald, 4(12).
Verso una Strategia Italiana per l’Artico. (2015). Ministero Degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale. Retrieved from: http://www.esteri.it/mae/it/politica_estera/aree_geografiche/europa/artico/. in Italian.
Vyatkin, K. S. (2015). Arctic dimension of the FRG Policy: National approach and aspects of international cooperation. Retrieved from: http://abfund.org/arkticheskoe-izmerenie-politiki-frg-natsional-ny-j-podhod-i-aspekty-mezhdunarodnogo-sotrudnichestva/.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Lagutina, M.L., Eremina, N.V., Gadal, S. (2022). European Arctic Policy. In: Pak, E.V., Krivtsov, A.I., Zagrebelnaya, N.S. (eds) The Handbook of the Arctic. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9250-5_5-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9250-5_5-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-9249-9
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-9250-5
eBook Packages: Social SciencesReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences