The European Union's Arctic Policy: Evolution and the Role of the Scandinavian Member States

Abstract

The process of forming the European Union’s policy towards the Arctic region has been analyzed, the main dimensions of the EU’s presence in the Arctic have been considered, and the contribution of the Scandinavian member states to the implementation of the Union’s Arctic policy has been examined. The article is based on a qualitative analysis of documents, as well as secondary sources (media publications, statistical and analytical materials).

The authors argue that the European Union is one of the key political actors in the European Arctic, making a significant contribution to the regulation, financing, and coordination of Arctic cooperation networks. In addition to traditional areas of interest, such as climate change, research support, critical resources, and cooperation, new topics such as geopolitics and security have emerged in recent EU policy documents on the Arctic region. Since the emergence of the EU Arctic policy, the EU’s involvement in the Arctic has increased, but its influence is limited by the lack of formal jurisdiction, which is primarily attributed to the fact that the member states of the EU have no access to the Arctic Ocean. The legitimacy of the European Union as an Arctic actor is also questioned. However, the EU’s indirect influence, including its environmental footprint, is significant through environmental, economic, and political ties. Simultaneously, differences have been identified among the positions of the Arctic states that are EU members concerning the European Union’s advancement in Arctic affairs. The formulation of the EU’s renewed Arctic policy in 2021 indicates that geopolitical considerations and climate priorities are likely to shape EU engagement in the Arctic in the coming years. However, a successful strategy will require increasing attention to the controversial political issues between different Arctic actors, whose activity in this region is only increasing.