The Arctic is experiencing climate change three times faster than any other region, with consequences reaching far beyond its borders. Recent projections indicate that the situation is even more severe than previously thought, with some areas, like Svalbard, warming six times faster.

The European Union (EU) may only have limited jurisdiction in the Arctic, but that does not mean it has no impact. The EU’s demand for Arctic resources has a considerable footprint in the region, implying a certain responsibility. As the current EU Arctic policy states: “Arctic development is not driven by local political and economic forces only”. The EU has significant leverage through trade, regulations, and diplomacy to shape a more sustainable region.

In a rapidly changing environment, both in terms of climate and security, the EU’s goals in the Arctic should be clearer, particularly as they relate to the green transition. Failing to be clear leaves room for ambiguity, meaning the EU risks being seen to have contradictory interests in the region: On the one hand being an advocate for protection and precaution, but on the other hand, fuelling demand for fossil fuels and critical raw materials originating from one of the world’s most sensitive regions.

In this policy brief, we take a closer look at the latest status of the Arctic, the EU’s scope for influence in the region, and we make recommendations for a renewed EU Arctic policy.

Read the full brief in the PDF.