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#EUArctic: EU action plan calls for safe, sustainable and prosperous Arctic development

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160428PolarBear2The High Representative and the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, set out  a new action plan with 39 actions in an integrated response to the challenges of the Arctic. Mogherini, said: “A safe, sustainable and prosperous Arctic not only serves the 4 million people living there, our European Union and the rest of the world. The steps taken today underline our commitment to the region, its States and its peoples, and to ensuring that the region remains an example of constructive international cooperation.”

Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said: "We impact on the Arctic and the 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."

The Joint Communication takes into account existing EU legislation, including the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as ongoing and forthcoming EU activities and projects. It also builds on and complements pre-existing Arctic policies of EU countries.

Background

In 2014, the Council and European Parliament asked the Commission and the High Representative to develop a more coherent framework for EU action and funding programmes in the Arctic. The new, integrated EU policy for the Arctic stems from that request and is to further bolster the EU's profile in the Arctic, building on a number of existing EU activities and decisions that already have an impact on the region following the 2008 policy communication and an update and overview of activities in 2012.

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The Arctic covers the Central Arctic Ocean, its regional seas such as the Barents, Chara and Chucchi seas, as well as the territories of Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States. Three EU Member States are therefore also Arctic States, while Iceland and Norway are members of the European Economic area.

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