Arctic Connections Policy frameworks for regional co-operation TOWARDS AN EU POLICY and the ARCTIC INFORMATION CENTRE INITIATIVE Jaime Reynolds DG Environment June 2014

Towards an EU Arctic Policy

2008

• Communication 'EU and the Arctic Region' • 2009 Council Conclusions, 2011 EP Resolution

2012

• Communication 'Progress and next steps' • 2014 EP Resolution, 2014 Council Conclusions

2015

• 'Proposals for the further development of an integrated and coherent Arctic Policy'

Knowledge

• Addressing environmental and climate changes

The EU approach

2012 Communication Responsibility

• Economic development based on sustainable use of resources and environmental expertise

Engagement

• Dialogue with Arctic States, indigenous peoples, other stakeholders

The EU contribution

Fighting climate change Investing in sustainable development in the North Environmental policy Arctic environment research Monitoring and assessment Shipping and maritime safety

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Preparatory Action – Strategic Assessment of Development in the Arctic

2012 EU budget €1 million initiated by EP December 2012 - October 2014 Managed by DG Environment for the Commission European Arctic focus: Greenland to Urals Conduct Strategic Assessment of Arctic development Test feasibility of Arctic Information Centre idea Final Workshop 'The EU in the Arctic, the Arctic in the EU', Brussels 11 September 2014 http://www.arcticinfo.eu/en/the-project/about-the-project

Arctic Information Centre initiative

• • • • • • • Launched 2009 Led by Arctic Centre University of Lapland Network: 18 centres of research and communication Not research co-ordination Knowledge/policy boundary Communication and awareness Serving and stimulating dialogue

Preparatory Action – main outputs

• • • • • • Main outputs: Strategic Impact assessment Stakeholder consultation Gap Analysis Arctic Initiatives Compendium Network Feasibility Analysis Outreach and Communication

2014 Council Conclusions

"the Council looks forward to the results of the preparatory action…[and] requests the Commission to consider the options proposed by this project to establish an EU Arctic Information Centre to promote efficient access to Arctic information, to facilitate dialogues and to communicate on Arctic issues".

ARC and AIC

• • • • • Interface: distinct or complementary?

Scope – functionally and geographically?

Value for money: how to achieve aims most efficiently?

Political support: Arctic and non-Arctic Structures: formal/light, sustainability, governance?