EU ARCTIC Forum
Cross-platform Arctic Issues
About Us
The function of the EU ARCTIC Forum in Brussels
The EU ARCTIC Forum was first constructed in the beginning of 2010 to provide the Political Brussels with a cross-party and cross-issue platform to foster a better understanding of changes in the Arctic Region and its implications for European citizens and businesses, to facilitate a well informed and balanced debate, as well as to bolster the development of a coherent European Policy on the Arctic Region.
The EU ARCTIC Forum today provides the European Parliament’s platform on all issues with regard to the Arctic, facilitating not only exchange and input of information but interlinking so far too often fragmented debates on the Arctic.
The participants
The EU ARCTIC Forum was from the start involving a number of leading MEP’s, including Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees, from all major political groups and several committees, Delegations and Intergroups, such as the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Environment, Transport, Industry, Research and Energy, Development and Transport. Thus the EU ARCTIC Forum developed as the European Parliament’s Arctic platform interlinking all issues regarding the Arctic, which proved particularly important during the discussion and negotiation of the Parliaments Report on the “High North”.
Today the EU ARCTIC Forum is the meeting point for officials from the EU institutions, in particular the European Commission, EEAS and Parliament, but also EU agencies, for politicians from the Arctic and from the EU, as well as the several stakeholders in the Arctic. Thus it provides a complementary service as an independent and open platform. The Forum invites on a regular basis speakers from the Arctic States, the scientific community, business, NGOs, and international institutions in the format of breakfast briefings, seminars, hearings and debates and is also organising study and field trips, both to the Arctic, but not the least also for Arctic stakeholders to Brussels.
Future Meetings are already planned and interest to participate was already expressed by Commissioners and other High Officials, Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors of several Arctic States, as well as high profile leaders of the international or European Institutions such as the European Environmental Agency, the International Maritime Organisation and the Nordic Council of Ministers, but also from Civil society, NGOs and the energy, fishing and shipping industry as well by leading academics in the field.
Open for contributions
In light of the ambition to stimulate and contribute to an informed debate, the EU ARCTIC Forum calls for contributions to the EU ARCTIC Newsletter and the Opinion site of the homepage by all interested participants and readers. We want to invite you to share your insights and opinions with broad audience of politicians, experts and stakeholders whose work will be addressed.
The editor of the EU ARCTIC Newsletter and the organisers of the EU ARCTIC Forum look forward to your valuable comments and contributions.
Secretary General
