Conference on Raw Materials in the Arctic – and Foreign Policy Challenges in the Danish Parliament, Copenhagen May 2012

Peter Bay Kirkegaard, Chief Consultant Danish Industries and EUAF Secretary General Steffen Weber

Secretary General of the EU Arctic Forum, Steffen Weber addressed the audience of politicians, scientist, environmental and business organizations during the conference both on the developing EU policy as well as on increasing interests and contributions by member states and business sectors and underlined the need for a platform between business and the political sectors, as well as the role of the EU in Arctic Policy.

Arranged at the Danish Parliament on initiative of MP Sara Olsvig (IA), the conference focused on the new possibilities and challenges that the raw materials in the Arctic entrails, and on the implications for security policy in the region.

Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, Greenland Government, Raw Materials Directorate, Head of Office

As mentioned by Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, Head of Office at the Raw Materials Directorate in the Greenland Government, raw materials are within Greenlandic competence since 2010, while Denmark still has sovereign control over the foreign and security policy in Greenland.

The first session focused of the dynamics of raw materials and the environmental challenges with raw material extraction. Speakers included Karen Hanghøj, State Geologist at GEUS and Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, Head of Office at Greenlands Raw materials Directorate.

Among the speakers were Claus Grube, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nils Wang, Head of the Danish Defence Academy and Peter Bay Kirkegaard, Chief Consultant at Danish Industries.

EU Arctic ForumThe main conclusions of the conference emphasised the need for increased international cooperation in the Arctic, not least to develop capacity to handle disasters but also to develop the industries with growth potential in the region.

A video from the conference can be viewed here: video.html

Conference proceedings (in Danish).

and Agenda of the conference.


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