1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 Brussels Live Transcribed and translated by AI 2 00:00:04,074 --> 00:00:07,893 Good morning, everyone. Good morning, dear colleagues. 3 00:00:07,963 --> 00:00:13,408 Welcome to this brief meeting of our Foreign Affairs Committee, where we have 4 00:00:13,479 --> 00:00:19,207 roughly 45 up to 60 minutes' time, so we can all participate in the votes at 1 2. 5 00:00:19,278 --> 00:00:23,874 If you have no comments, then we can then enter into the agend a. 6 00:00:23,945 --> 00:00:27,056 Item number 1 is the adoption of the agenda. 7 00:00:27,127 --> 00:00:33,067 There are no objections from your side, as I can see, so we can propose to adopt the 8 00:00:33,138 --> 00:00:38,795 agenda as it stands. The main point of today's agenda is the presentation of the 9 00:00:38,865 --> 00:00:44,310 Joint Communication on the Europe -Snova neighborhood, a new strategy for the 10 00:00:44,381 --> 00:00:48,270 Arctic. It is my pleasure to welcome two our committee: 11 00:00:48,341 --> 00:00:53,857 Madame Claude Viron-Reville, the Special Envoy for Ar ctic Affairs and Head of 12 00:00:53,928 --> 00:00:58,807 Division for Western Europe, at the European External Action Service. 13 00:00:58,878 --> 00:01:04,747 I would also like to welcome Mr. Mark Gray, Head of Unit for Political Strategy and 14 00:01:04,818 --> 00:01:08,000 Communication, at the Commission's D G INTPA. 15 00:01:08,070 --> 00:01:13,940 The Arctic—and we've discussed this a number of times in our committee—is no longer 16 00:01:14,010 --> 00:01:19,809 a remote per ipheral region. Climate change, growing geopolitical competition, and 17 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:25,608 the Russian military presence in the High North have made it a strategic priority 18 00:01:25,678 --> 00:01:31,335 for the European Union. Up to now, the European Union's approach, dated from the 19 00:01:31,406 --> 00:01:37,346 Communication of October 2021, and it is certainly an understatement to say that the 20 00:01:37,417 --> 00:01:40,387 world has changed considerably since then. 21 00:01:40,458 --> 00:01:46,398 Earlier this week, the College adopted a new strategy for the Arctic, which responds 22 00:01:46,468 --> 00:01:49,792 to that change and is presented here now today. 23 00:01:49,863 --> 00:01:55,378 It looks set to place greater emphasis on security, defense, connectivity, and 24 00:01:55,449 --> 00:02:01,318 economic security, while binding on our long-standing commitments to climate action 25 00:02:01,389 --> 00:02:04,642 scientific cooperation and indigenous peoples. 26 00:02:04,713 --> 00:02:10,582 What I would like to say to our two guest speakers is that this committee, as shown 27 00:02:10,653 --> 00:02:15,390 at close interest in Arctic matters throughout the last few year s. 28 00:02:15,461 --> 00:02:20,765 In November 2025, we adopted our report on the EU's diplomatic strategy and 29 00:02:20,835 --> 00:02:26,634 geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic, where we call for a robust value-based and 30 00:02:26,705 --> 00:02:28,614 security-oriented strategy. 31 00:02:29,874 --> 00:02:35,137 Also, I would like to welcome that, as a follow-up, we commissioned a study entitled 32 00:02:35,199 --> 00:02:40,336 "Focus on the High North: Upgrading the EU's Arctic Policy and Protecting the EU's 33 00:02:40,399 --> 00:02:45,662 Interests in a Rapidly Evolving Region. " And finally, just a few weeks ago, we sent 34 00:02:45,724 --> 00:02:50,799 a small delegation to Iceland, where the E U's Arctic Policy was, of course, also 35 00:02:50,861 --> 00:02:56,124 core of the discussions in Reykjavík. So, with all that in mind, we now look forward 36 00:02:56,187 --> 00:02:59,444 to hearing from you from the EAS and the Commission: 37 00:02:59,507 --> 00:03:03,391 how the Joint Communic ation translates into ambitious action. 38 00:03:03,454 --> 00:03:08,278 Because the European Union is world champion in printing papers, we have many 39 00:03:08,340 --> 00:03:13,603 strategies—it's time for a strategy to coordinate all our strategies—but we are more 40 00:03:13,666 --> 00:03:16,547 interested in what does that mean in practice. 41 00:03:16,610 --> 00:03:21,685 I will give you now, first, you the floor for 7 minutes, and then afterwards you, 42 00:03:21,747 --> 00:03:26,884 Mr. Gray. Then we have time for an exchange of views, and I will close the meeting 43 00:03:26,947 --> 00:03:30,894 at quarter to 12 so we can all vote. The floor is yours, Madam. 44 00:03:33,114 --> 00:03:37,722 Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and very good to be here. 45 00:03:37,803 --> 00:03:44,593 Honorable Member of the AFET Committee, and friends of the Arctic, so I'm very happy 46 00:03:44,674 --> 00:03:50,979 to be invited to present this strategy. Just days after its adoption, and this 47 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:57,850 strategy was the strategy the EU is stepping up its Arctic engagement, so as you can 48 00:03:57,931 --> 00:04:04,156 infer from the title of the strategy, partnership s are key to the successful 49 00:04:04,237 --> 00:04:10,380 implementation of our ambition. The northern neighborhood is the cooperation 50 00:04:10,461 --> 00:04:17,090 framework with our partners. Northern neighborhood, we conceive it as an inclusive 51 00:04:17,171 --> 00:04:23,800 framework of interests, values, and geography, and the term "neighborhood" is here 52 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:30,186 to underline the proximity of the European Union to the wider Ar ctic, and our 53 00:04:30,267 --> 00:04:36,814 ambition to make the cooperation between the EU and its Arctic partners more oper 54 00:04:36,895 --> 00:04:43,443 ational, but also more strategic. So our message is that we want to work together 55 00:04:43,524 --> 00:04:50,234 with like-minded partners in our northern neighborhood, security in our response to 56 00:04:50,314 --> 00:04:56,943 climate crisis and, above all, we want to do that tog ether with the people of the 57 00:04:57,024 --> 00:05:02,117 Arctic and especially indigenous peoples and local communities. 58 00:05:02,198 --> 00:05:07,695 So I want to emphasize again that the neighborhood is not a policy ; 59 00:05:07,775 --> 00:05:14,000 it is a framework for cooperation. We had a very successful Arctic sum mit in 60 00:05:14,081 --> 00:05:20,548 Rovaniemi, in September, where the high representative and vice president of the 61 00:05:20,629 --> 00:05:27,257 Commission, Kaja Kallas, particip ated, and the Rovaniemi summit, the first of its 62 00:05:27,338 --> 00:05:34,048 kind, sent a powerful message of our new level of ambition, and it could serve as a 63 00:05:34,129 --> 00:05:40,677 model for regular high-level joint summits with our member states and partners to 64 00:05:40,757 --> 00:05:44,799 discuss shared challenges and how to address them. 65 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:51,105 Now, the structure of the strategy that you have seen shows that our approach 66 00:05:51,186 --> 00:05:57,976 remains balanced. It is people-centered, it is climate-aware, it is security-minded, 67 00:05:58,057 --> 00:06:01,695 and it is gro unded in long-term cooperation. 68 00:06:01,775 --> 00:06:06,706 We have therefore organized the strategy along four chapters: 69 00:06:06,787 --> 00:06:13,174 the first one is strengthening security and resilience, the second one is about 70 00:06:13,254 --> 00:06:19,721 protecting the environment and addressing climate change, the third one is about 71 00:06:19,802 --> 00:06:21,002 supporting the 72 00:06:21,294 --> 00:06:27,472 Arctic economy and economic security, and the fourth one contributing to the 73 00:06:27,554 --> 00:06:31,374 prosperity of the people liv ing in the Arctic. 74 00:06:31,456 --> 00:06:37,959 Now, regarding security, the basis of our updated strategy is not surprising for 75 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:44,463 you. You have showed, as the Chair, Mr. McAllister, underlined, that you have a 76 00:06:44,544 --> 00:06:50,966 strong interest in the file, you did so with the own initiative report that was 77 00:06:51,047 --> 00:06:57,795 issued last year, and also with the Arctic study that came out last month, and that 78 00:06:57,876 --> 00:07:04,542 we have re ad carefully. You have along those reports consistently highlighted the 79 00:07:04,623 --> 00:07:09,663 need for the EU to address the ch ange geopolitical landscape. 80 00:07:09,745 --> 00:07:16,004 Rightly so. And our updated Arctic strategy reflects also this new reality by 81 00:07:16,086 --> 00:07:22,345 putting security firmly at its core. Because the Arctic regions are no longer 82 00:07:22,426 --> 00:07:28,686 insulated against shifting geopolitical dynamics, Russ ia's war of aggression 83 00:07:28,767 --> 00:07:34,864 against Ukraine, Russia's complete disregard for the rules-based order invi 84 00:07:34,946 --> 00:07:41,530 olability of borders and territorial integrity, have made cooperation with Russia 85 00:07:41,612 --> 00:07:48,359 impossible. Russia is building up its military capacity in the Arctic, reviving the 86 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:55,106 Cola Peninsula as a strategic bastion, and expanding the capacities of the port of 87 00:07:55,188 --> 00:08:01,935 Murmansk. In parallel, we are seeing a steady normalization of more confrontational 88 00:08:02,016 --> 00:08:08,682 behavior in the region, hybrid threats, in the Baltic, and increasingly too in the 89 00:08:08,764 --> 00:08:14,698 Arctic, and a serious concern with recurring incidents affecting critical 90 00:08:14,779 --> 00:08:21,608 infrastructure and regional stability. Russia maritime doctrine is linking the North 91 00:08:21,689 --> 00:08:25,429 Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic theaters. 92 00:08:25,510 --> 00:08:32,257 And we need to adjust to this reality and regard the Arctic and Baltic regions as a 93 00:08:32,339 --> 00:08:35,753 continuous interconnected strategic space. 94 00:08:35,834 --> 00:08:41,850 And finally, we need to leave no doubt that sovereignty is not negotiable. 95 00:08:41,931 --> 00:08:48,516 But also to have a safe and secure Arctic, we need the resilient and prepared and 96 00:08:48,597 --> 00:08:55,345 populated Ar ctic, and at the heart of this lies improved infrastructure that would 97 00:08:55,426 --> 00:09:00,303 boost East-West connection s, from the Baltic to the Arctic. 98 00:09:00,385 --> 00:09:05,994 We need infrastructure that is suited to the Arctic and to both civil 99 00:09:06,294 --> 00:09:12,586 ian and defensive purposes. This requires speeding up the implementation of 20 100 00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:18,152 projects, such as Rail Nordica project and completing Ra il Baltica. 101 00:09:18,232 --> 00:09:24,524 We need also to upgrade our vigilance capacity to safeguard our infrastructure 102 00:09:24,605 --> 00:09:28,558 against the har sh climate and hybrid activities. 103 00:09:28,638 --> 00:09:35,172 This is why we will work to enhance our situational and maritime domain awareness 104 00:09:35,253 --> 00:09:41,625 through satellite data, in-situ and remote sensor observation, and inform ation 105 00:09:41,706 --> 00:09:47,030 sharing. To do this, we aim to establish a maritime security hub . 106 00:09:47,110 --> 00:09:53,644 We want to work with member states to improve the security of submarine cables in 107 00:09:53,725 --> 00:10:00,501 the region through an Ar ctic cable hub. Looking ahead, we hope that this initiative 108 00:10:00,582 --> 00:10:07,277 can be expanded to a comprehensive maritime security hub, with member states in the 109 00:10:07,357 --> 00:10:11,552 lead. We also want to increase our icebreaker fleet; 110 00:10:11,633 --> 00:10:15,424 the EU can count approximately 10 ic ebreakers. 111 00:10:15,505 --> 00:10:21,958 Whereas Russia has nearly 50 of them. The EU will need first to map the specific 112 00:10:22,038 --> 00:10:28,411 need for icebreakers with member states through the new EU industri al maritime 113 00:10:28,492 --> 00:10:34,542 value chain alliance, and we will explore opportunities to pull funding and 114 00:10:34,622 --> 00:10:41,075 technical resources within the neighborhood, within their neighborhood grouping, 115 00:10:41,156 --> 00:10:46,238 that means that we are ready to re ach out to our partners too. 116 00:10:46,319 --> 00:10:53,014 Then again, regarding space, Earth observation and navigation, we want to boost our 117 00:10:53,094 --> 00:10:56,886 Copernicus and Galileo coverage. Of the Arctic. 118 00:10:56,966 --> 00:11:03,178 To improve our ability to monitor land and sea ice mapping permafrost-related 119 00:11:03,258 --> 00:11:07,614 changes, oil spill, and maritime safety in the Arctic. 120 00:11:07,695 --> 00:11:14,309 To add to Copernicus capacities, a new Earth observation governmental service will 121 00:11:14,390 --> 00:11:20,763 support decision-making in security and defense, and to complement Galileo-free 122 00:11:20,843 --> 00:11:27,538 navigation services, the EU will initiate secure navigation services for government 123 00:11:27,619 --> 00:11:31,007 use with Galileo public regulated service. 124 00:11:31,088 --> 00:11:37,380 These initiatives highlight that Arctic security is a key priority for the EU. 125 00:11:37,460 --> 00:11:44,236 Arctic security is European security. As the High Representative Vice President said 126 00:11:44,317 --> 00:11:48,834 in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Europe has interest to defend. 127 00:11:48,834 --> 00:11:52,882 It has partners to work with and responsibilities to meet. 128 00:11:52,952 --> 00:11:56,092 Europe will not be a bystander in the Arctic. 129 00:11:56,162 --> 00:12:01,955 It is a collective effort, which requires coordination with NATO and with partners. 130 00:12:02,025 --> 00:12:07,818 I will stop there, and give an opportunity to my colleague from I NTPAM, Mark Gray, 131 00:12:07,887 --> 00:12:13,750 to complement on the other point. Thank you very much, and I look forward to hearing 132 00:12:13,820 --> 00:12:15,774 your comments and questions. 133 00:12:16,794 --> 00:12:19,858 Thank you very much for your introductory statement. 134 00:12:19,917 --> 00:12:24,573 Before I give the floor to Mr. Gray, I'm pleased to welcome a group of national 135 00:12:24,632 --> 00:12:29,111 parliamentarians from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland to our 136 00:12:29,170 --> 00:12:33,472 Strasbourg for the 66th meeting of the EAA Joint Parliamentary Committee. 137 00:12:33,531 --> 00:12:36,654 Welcome, dear colleagues, to the European Parliament. 138 00:12:38,274 --> 00:12:39,474 Mr. Gray. 139 00:12:40,194 --> 00:12:47,556 Thank you so much, Chair. Honorable members, thank you for the invitation and I can 140 00:12:47,645 --> 00:12:55,007 also also like to express my welcome to members from national parliaments and we've 141 00:12:55,096 --> 00:12:59,886 met quite a number of them very recently in Reykjavík. 142 00:12:59,974 --> 00:13:07,425 I want to begin by paying tribute to this parliament and the recommendations and the 143 00:13:07,514 --> 00:13:14,433 study that has been very much a foundation also for the drafting of this joint 144 00:13:14,521 --> 00:13:19,755 communication. It's been an extensive consultation process. 145 00:13:19,843 --> 00:13:27,117 We've tried to listen as much as we can, and I think many of the key elements that 146 00:13:27,205 --> 00:13:33,592 have been set out by this House are captured in the joint communication. 147 00:13:33,681 --> 00:13:40,954 I want to make three points, and I'm going to try not to repeat what has just been 148 00:13:41,043 --> 00:13:45,389 said. First, very briefly, why are we doing this? 149 00:13:45,478 --> 00:13:52,574 Two, that shift of political framing that I think is important but if I can also 150 00:13:52,663 --> 00:13:57,275 respond to the Chair. Strategies are nice, but what. 151 00:13:57,364 --> 00:14:04,637 Are you actually going to do about it? So I will try and spend most of the time on 152 00:14:04,726 --> 00:14:12,177 that. In terms of why are we doing this, I think the special envoy court has set out 153 00:14:12,265 --> 00:14:19,450 very nicely the changing situation. I think the reality is that this is not an up 154 00:14:19,539 --> 00:14:25,748 date of a strategy. This is a new strategy, to adapt to a new reality. 155 00:14:25,837 --> 00:14:32,312 And that reality is changing faster than probably any of us could expect. 156 00:14:32,401 --> 00:14:37,102 We now see that the Arctic is a geopolitical theater. 157 00:14:37,190 --> 00:14:41,625 We see that it risks to become a security theater. 158 00:14:41,714 --> 00:14:48,455 We have seen claims made on the Arctic and parts of it, and I think with the 159 00:14:48,544 --> 00:14:55,995 European Union's exper ience, whether that be in Ukraine or in terms of our response 160 00:14:56,084 --> 00:15:03,091 to Greenland we uphold the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. 161 00:15:03,180 --> 00:15:07,349 That brings me to my second point, the framing. 162 00:15:07,437 --> 00:15:11,163 We are addressing this through a new lens. 163 00:15:11,252 --> 00:15:17,372 And it's a partnership lens, and again, with a number of colle agues. 164 00:15:17,461 --> 00:15:24,557 At the back of this room, that we've discussed in Norway, in Iceland, in Canada, 165 00:15:24,645 --> 00:15:32,008 with the United States, Greenland, Faroe Islands, this is about building a strategy 166 00:15:32,096 --> 00:15:38,394 that ver y much brings together like-minded partners to address the iss 167 00:15:38,454 --> 00:15:45,446 ues of concern. For us, the framing matters because the northern neighborhood 168 00:15:45,536 --> 00:15:49,532 precisely conveys the s ense of criticality. 169 00:15:49,622 --> 00:15:54,798 The closeness, the connectiveness that this issue brings. 170 00:15:54,889 --> 00:16:02,244 What we are trying to do is to show what the European Union means for the Arctic, 171 00:16:02,334 --> 00:16:07,238 but also what the Arctic means for the European Union. 172 00:16:07,328 --> 00:16:11,324 And that we stand and support our neighbors. 173 00:16:11,414 --> 00:16:18,678 I think that's obviously true for the three European Union member stat es in the 174 00:16:18,769 --> 00:16:25,761 Arctic, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, but this is a strategy for the whole of the 175 00:16:25,851 --> 00:16:33,479 European Union. But now I want to turn to, in a sense, the Chair's challenge of what 176 00:16:33,569 --> 00:16:38,563 about this? How are we going to turn this into reality? 177 00:16:38,654 --> 00:16:46,009 And I think what you have seen in this strategy is a complete mobilization of the 178 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:53,727 whole Commission . This is not just a strategy of DG INTPA and the EES, and I should 179 00:16:53,818 --> 00:17:01,354 pay tribute in particular to DG MA RI, who have played a fundamental role over many 180 00:17:01,445 --> 00:17:07,983 years. This is a strategy that, if you go through it, has got real meat; 181 00:17:08,073 --> 00:17:15,701 there is a whole set of deliverables here, across a whole set of areas, whether that 182 00:17:15,791 --> 00:17:22,692 be as has been mentioned on digital, on space, on transport, on critical raw 183 00:17:22,783 --> 00:17:29,321 materials, on research, on innovation, on tourism, et cetera, et cetera. 184 00:17:29,411 --> 00:17:36,948 There is a lot of, there are a whole set of proposals here, that look at the Arctic 185 00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:44,121 from that dual-use perspective, so not simply from a military or simply from a 186 00:17:44,212 --> 00:17:51,203 civilian. We are trying to build capabilities that c ross those two different 187 00:17:51,294 --> 00:17:58,286 issues, whether that be in terms of space, again, whether that be in terms of 188 00:17:58,377 --> 00:18:05,913 transport. Of course, we're very aware that there is a special fragility around the 189 00:18:06,004 --> 00:18:13,086 Arctic. And that is why when we look at issues like critical raw materials, we 190 00:18:13,177 --> 00:18:19,896 absolutely underline the environ mental, social, and governance standards. 191 00:18:19,987 --> 00:18:27,614 It's when we look at renewable energy we are very clear and strong on our commitment 192 00:18:27,705 --> 00:18:35,150 on at least what the European Union can do in terms of the moratorium on oil, gas, 193 00:18:35,241 --> 00:18:42,051 and coal in the Arctic. When we look at the economy, we look at it from the 194 00:18:42,142 --> 00:18:45,774 perspective of what can we do concretely 195 00:18:45,954 --> 00:18:52,824 ? That benefits the people of the Arctic. And again, I come back to the point about 196 00:18:52,907 --> 00:18:59,694 how much we've placed emphasis on working together with the peoples of the Arctic: 197 00:18:59,776 --> 00:19:06,646 indigenous peoples, local communities, to build a number of very actionable po ints 198 00:19:06,729 --> 00:19:13,682 that will directly benefit them. Whether that be, as I say, fisheries, blue economy, 199 00:19:13,764 --> 00:19:17,820 small and medium enterprises, tourism, et cetera. 200 00:19:17,903 --> 00:19:24,524 So there is a whole final section of the communication that addresses the people 201 00:19:24,607 --> 00:19:31,477 dimens ion. But I want to conclude with, in a sense, a question of what happens nex 202 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:38,512 t. The first thing to say is that yes, this is a strategy, so it's not a legislative 203 00:19:38,595 --> 00:19:45,300 proposal, it doesn't have a detailed timeline, a detailed action plan, a costings 204 00:19:45,382 --> 00:19:49,935 for each initiative. But this is not business as usual. 205 00:19:50,017 --> 00:19:56,556 Already next week, the. Commissioner Sickola has been asked to follow up on the 206 00:19:56,639 --> 00:20:03,426 implementation of the strategy. Already next week, DG INTPA will convene a meeting 207 00:20:03,509 --> 00:20:10,213 of all DGs, to bring together all the different strands across the Commission, to 208 00:20:10,296 --> 00:20:16,917 now go one by one, strand by strand, of how we take each one of these actionable 209 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:23,870 points and take them forward. So it's, from our perspective, not a case of we write 210 00:20:23,953 --> 00:20:30,160 a strategy and we come back in a few mon ths' time to consider what we did. 211 00:20:30,243 --> 00:20:36,451 We start already next week, concretely looking at how we take this forward. 212 00:20:36,534 --> 00:20:38,934 Thank you for your attention. 213 00:20:41,394 --> 00:20:45,840 Right, thank you to both our guest speakers and now we have time for an exchange of 214 00:20:45,893 --> 00:20:50,285 views. As always, I first give the floor to the coordinators for two minutes each, 215 00:20:50,339 --> 00:20:52,374 and Łukasz Kuhut is speaking for VEPP. 216 00:20:53,574 --> 00:20:59,333 Thank you very much. Dear Chair, nothing unites people like a common enemy, our 217 00:20:59,406 --> 00:21:05,529 enemy comes from the east. It is a threat to us all, especially those in central and 218 00:21:05,602 --> 00:21:11,653 eastern Europe, and the north . As the strategy rightly says, the Arctic, the North 219 00:21:11,725 --> 00:21:17,338 Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea are becoming one interconnected strategic space. 220 00:21:17,411 --> 00:21:21,421 What happens in one affects the security of all Europe. 221 00:21:21,494 --> 00:21:27,471 Hybrid attacks are hitting us everywhere. GPS jamming, cable sabotage, drones over 222 00:21:27,544 --> 00:21:31,553 our infrastructure, and the shadow fleet in our waters. 223 00:21:31,626 --> 00:21:37,750 The high north is part of the same front. We cannot protect Europe while leaving the 224 00:21:37,823 --> 00:21:43,509 high north exposed. The Arctic is a second gateway to Europe and must be fully 225 00:21:43,581 --> 00:21:49,632 protected. As the Standing Rapporteur for Norway and on behalf of Mika Aaltola, the 226 00:21:49,705 --> 00:21:55,391 Rapporteur for the Arctic, we believe that the strategy is moving in the right 227 00:21:55,464 --> 00:21:59,692 direction by providing concrete tools to enhance security. 228 00:21:59,765 --> 00:22:05,815 Firstly, the maritime security hub will enable us to share information from various 229 00:22:05,888 --> 00:22:11,720 national and EU sources, from the Seabed to space, tracking Russian shadow fleet 230 00:22:11,793 --> 00:22:17,843 vessels must be a priority. Europe has concrete tools such as air observation data, 231 00:22:17,916 --> 00:22:21,196 Copernicus, and navigation serv ices Galileo. 232 00:22:21,269 --> 00:22:27,320 Secondly, the Arctic Cable Hub is another initiative that could monitor and protect 233 00:22:27,393 --> 00:22:31,694 submarine cables in the North Atlant ic and Arctic regions. 234 00:22:31,767 --> 00:22:35,411 Critical infrastructure is essential for security. 235 00:22:35,484 --> 00:22:41,389 Nowadays, thirdly, we must expand European icebreaker capacity, as you mentioned, 236 00:22:41,462 --> 00:22:46,638 including through the new EU industrial maritime value chains alliance. 237 00:22:46,710 --> 00:22:51,084 European Polar Vessels must balance the power in the region. 238 00:22:51,157 --> 00:22:57,281 Vigilance and preparedness are essential. The EU must operate in various dimensions, 239 00:22:57,353 --> 00:23:02,238 such as defense, including milit ary mobility and civil protection. 240 00:23:02,310 --> 00:23:07,924 We already know how to do this in the Baltic and across the European Arct ic. 241 00:23:07,996 --> 00:23:12,808 Now these tools need real funding in the new EU budget, of course. 242 00:23:12,881 --> 00:23:18,639 I believe that, like-minded partners in the region, such as Norway, Canada, and 243 00:23:18,712 --> 00:23:21,774 Iceland, will thread the strategy as an op 244 00:23:21,834 --> 00:23:24,696 portunity to develop also their capacities. 245 00:23:24,763 --> 00:23:26,094 Thank you very much. 246 00:23:28,314 --> 00:23:31,734 Thank you, Łukasz, for the S&D, Andreas Schieder, please. 247 00:23:32,514 --> 00:23:36,019 Yeah, good morning, and thanks for the presentation. 248 00:23:36,086 --> 00:23:41,546 And I have the honor to speak also on behalf of our S&D Shadow Rapporteur, Robert 249 00:23:41,614 --> 00:23:47,073 Piet ron, who regrets not to be here. But I also particularly pleased that we are 250 00:23:47,141 --> 00:23:52,803 accompanied today with colleagues from the Norwegian and Icelandic Parliament, which 251 00:23:52,870 --> 00:23:58,195 also let's say part of the Arctic. And as previously has been pointed out, 2021 252 00:23:58,262 --> 00:24:02,239 strategy is no longer reflecting the reality which we have. 253 00:24:02,307 --> 00:24:07,834 We see that it's becoming increasingly volatile and also geopolitically sensitive, 254 00:24:07,901 --> 00:24:13,024 and theref ore we need this update. And the high representative rightly said 255 00:24:13,091 --> 00:24:18,619 already, Arctic security is European security, and it's also about this rule-based 256 00:24:18,686 --> 00:24:24,213 order, and we have to say that the Arctic in the past, even in the coldest days of 257 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,392 the Cold W ar, was a rule-based order respected by everybody. 258 00:24:28,460 --> 00:24:32,841 And this compromise now is shaken. We have Russia, we have China. 259 00:24:32,908 --> 00:24:38,098 There, we have to protect our critical infrastructure, the cable hub that was 260 00:24:38,166 --> 00:24:43,828 already mentioned, and also the . Still in the future partnership must be one of the 261 00:24:43,895 --> 00:24:47,535 key pillars, as you also pointed out, of the strategy. 262 00:24:47,602 --> 00:24:53,129 And especially important is to strengthen the EU partnership with Greenland, while 263 00:24:53,197 --> 00:24:58,589 also always saying we resp ect the Greenland's right to decide its own future in 264 00:24:58,657 --> 00:25:01,555 close cooperation with the Denmark kingdom. 265 00:25:01,622 --> 00:25:06,813 And we also should continue to deepen our relations with Norway, Iceland, and 266 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:11,531 Canada, as they are part ners which are sharing the values as stable. 267 00:25:11,598 --> 00:25:16,182 I have to say, not like others. And then there's the climate change. 268 00:25:16,249 --> 00:25:21,372 The Arctic warmly nearly is warming nearly four times faster than the global 269 00:25:21,439 --> 00:25:24,809 average, and already the global average is enough. 270 00:25:24,877 --> 00:25:29,595 So four times more is even a big disaster, so we have to look on this. 271 00:25:29,663 --> 00:25:33,168 And there is the question of critical raw materials. 272 00:25:33,235 --> 00:25:38,560 Where we have to look also that extraction is sustainable and meets the highest 273 00:25:38,627 --> 00:25:44,289 environmental and social standards, but also respecting the rights of the indigenous 274 00:25:44,357 --> 00:25:49,951 people. And this is my last point. I think we have to understand that the Arctic is 275 00:25:50,019 --> 00:25:55,074 an area where people are living, and living condition is important, but hav 276 00:25:55,074 --> 00:26:00,005 ing people living there is also the answer of the strategic challenges of the 277 00:26:00,069 --> 00:26:01,734 Arctic. Thank you so much. 278 00:26:03,054 --> 00:26:09,737 Thank you, Andreas who would like to take the floor for the Patriots group? 279 00:26:09,826 --> 00:26:16,330 Nobody for the ECR? Then for Renew Group, I give the floor to Marie-Agnès 280 00:26:16,419 --> 00:26:17,934 Stark-Simmermann. 281 00:26:18,474 --> 00:26:22,235 Thank you very much, David. I do not want to repeat myself on that. 282 00:26:22,291 --> 00:26:25,266 I do not want to repeat what my colleagues have said. 283 00:26:25,322 --> 00:26:29,869 But the Arctic is not just a land of adventure, a wonderful one, but also a major 284 00:26:29,925 --> 00:26:34,640 issue in the security field. And I am very pleased that Europe is finally addressing 285 00:26:34,696 --> 00:26:39,019 this issue, this topic. It is not without reason that we will also be working 286 00:26:39,075 --> 00:26:43,790 closely with Canada on this issue in future, especially when we note that the border 287 00:26:43,846 --> 00:26:48,505 between Canada and Denmark is more than 3,000 It is no coincidence that we are also 288 00:26:48,561 --> 00:26:53,276 working closely with Canada on this issue in the future when we note that the border 289 00:26:53,332 --> 00:26:57,542 between Canada and Denmark is a maritime border over 3,000 kilometres long. 290 00:26:57,599 --> 00:27:01,752 We are already connected in that regard. And in view of this world that is 291 00:27:01,809 --> 00:27:06,524 increasingly coming apart at the seams, it is of great importance to look at what we 292 00:27:06,580 --> 00:27:10,565 can do, what we must do. In terms of security policy—and to put it in a 293 00:27:10,621 --> 00:27:13,091 nutshell—thank you very much for this paper. 294 00:27:13,147 --> 00:27:17,750 We should continue working on this, but it is not just about talking about it, but 295 00:27:17,806 --> 00:27:20,276 also about being clear about what we can do. 296 00:27:20,332 --> 00:27:24,430 The report does say a lot. The topic of Greenland has just been taken up. 297 00:27:24,486 --> 00:27:28,808 What we experienced last year, by the way, Europe stood in a truly very solid 298 00:27:28,865 --> 00:27:31,952 position, alongside Denmark and Greenland respectively. 299 00:27:32,008 --> 00:27:35,039 This shows that when we stand together, it is helpful. 300 00:27:35,095 --> 00:27:39,474 Simply looking is not enough. We need to have our strategy and we also need to 301 00:27:39,530 --> 00:27:44,077 enforce it robustly, verbally robustly. So as not to open up another front there. 302 00:27:44,133 --> 00:27:45,333 Thank you. 303 00:27:47,574 --> 00:27:51,294 Thank you, colleague. Next speaker for the Greens is Mr Niinistö. 304 00:27:52,674 --> 00:27:57,128 Thank you, Chair. And thank you for the Commission for the representing the 305 00:27:57,187 --> 00:28:01,938 strategy. Obviously, there are a lot of improvements from the last strategy, but 306 00:28:01,997 --> 00:28:04,788 there are also some worries that our group has. 307 00:28:04,848 --> 00:28:09,539 So I will focus mainly on those. We think that the improvements on geopolitical 308 00:28:09,598 --> 00:28:14,230 understanding and the importance of that situation, I think there are a lot of 309 00:28:14,290 --> 00:28:19,218 improvements in that. I think it's important that we prepare for the Russian hybrid 310 00:28:19,278 --> 00:28:22,187 threats. We act against the Russian shadow fleet. 311 00:28:22,247 --> 00:28:26,998 We could do even more on that. But I will focus now more as a former environment 312 00:28:27,057 --> 00:28:32,045 minister for environment of Finland, on the environmental and climate responsibility 313 00:28:32,104 --> 00:28:35,846 that the EU has in the Arctic. Arctic is a very sensitive area. 314 00:28:35,905 --> 00:28:40,774 I mean, if species have to move northwards, they have nowhere left to go if global 315 00:28:40,834 --> 00:28:44,516 warming continues. They are very many biodiversity-rich areas. 316 00:28:44,575 --> 00:28:48,019 Under sea areas, for example, which are not yet protected. 317 00:28:48,079 --> 00:28:51,642 So it's one of the least protected areas still in the world. 318 00:28:51,701 --> 00:28:56,511 And EU and my own country when I was a minister, we worked a lot to inc rease the 319 00:28:56,570 --> 00:29:01,380 protected areas in the region and also work for the moratorium on the fossil fuel 320 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:05,953 extrac tion. I see that in these issues, in this strategy, there is a bit of 321 00:29:06,012 --> 00:29:09,041 backtracking from 2021. That's at least my feeling. 322 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:14,029 So if you can alleviate my worries and also answer my question, because I feel that 323 00:29:14,088 --> 00:29:18,661 the geopolitical challenges and the environmental challenges are interlinked. 324 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:23,709 Partly we have geopolitical threats in the Arctic if we don't create better rules on 325 00:29:23,768 --> 00:29:28,697 stopping over-exploitation. So the better rules we have on areas of no-go where you 326 00:29:28,756 --> 00:29:33,744 can't economically exploit the resources in the most sensitive northern areas, if we 327 00:29:33,804 --> 00:29:38,733 can have a moratorium there, it will also ease the pressures of different countries 328 00:29:38,792 --> 00:29:41,880 fighting for those resources, including also Russia. 329 00:29:41,939 --> 00:29:46,571 I have to say also that often historically, if there has been protected areas, 330 00:29:46,630 --> 00:29:51,559 Russia has respected them. So if we do make international treaties in these issues, 331 00:29:51,619 --> 00:29:53,994 it's a progress where we can also reduce 332 00:29:54,114 --> 00:29:58,488 the risk of geopolitical tension. And the same applies to IMO as well and maritime 333 00:29:58,542 --> 00:30:02,649 traffic. We have to make sure that there is a higher standard of what kind of 334 00:30:02,703 --> 00:30:07,183 criteria the vessels that move into the Arctic waters fill , because the risk of oil 335 00:30:07,237 --> 00:30:11,451 spill is very high and there's the European waters and European coasts that are 336 00:30:11,504 --> 00:30:15,825 also. Affected by that. So I would like you to answer a bit more about my worries 337 00:30:15,879 --> 00:30:20,200 that there is still focus on environmental regulations and standards globally and 338 00:30:20,253 --> 00:30:24,307 you are not forgetting that and that goes hand in hand with the geopolitics. 339 00:30:24,361 --> 00:30:25,561 Thank you. 340 00:30:27,414 --> 00:30:31,438 Thank you. Who would like to take the floor for the left? 341 00:30:31,508 --> 00:30:33,414 Please, madam. Two minutes. 342 00:30:37,554 --> 00:30:44,038 Thank you. Mr. Chair, the new Arctic strategy is an important step forward, but let 343 00:30:44,116 --> 00:30:48,959 me be clear. Strategy is only as strong as its implementation. 344 00:30:49,037 --> 00:30:53,880 From Nordic perspective, the Arctic is not Europe's periphery. 345 00:30:53,959 --> 00:30:59,114 It is an integral part of our security competitiveness and future. 346 00:30:59,192 --> 00:31:02,551 I would like to highlight three priorities. 347 00:31:02,629 --> 00:31:06,535 First, security must be backed by concrete action. 348 00:31:06,613 --> 00:31:12,238 Russia's war against Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe's security 349 00:31:12,316 --> 00:31:18,878 environment. We must strengthen our preparedness, protect official infra and improve 350 00:31:18,956 --> 00:31:22,315 our ability to respond to emerging threats. 351 00:31:22,393 --> 00:31:28,642 This requires closer cooperation between the EU-NATO and the Nordic partners, as 352 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:34,579 well as concrete investments in Arctic infra and security and especially in 353 00:31:34,657 --> 00:31:40,985 transport area. We cannot afford the threat Arctic security as a secondary issue. 354 00:31:41,063 --> 00:31:47,625 Second, we must turn Europe-Arctic ambitions also into smart investments innovations 355 00:31:47,703 --> 00:31:54,108 and jobs. We have world-class expertise in many areas in Arctic rese arch, digital 356 00:31:54,187 --> 00:31:59,733 solutions, expertise in strategic assets for the entire European Union. 357 00:31:59,811 --> 00:32:05,826 In the north part of Europe, the EU must ensure that ambitious translate into 358 00:32:05,904 --> 00:32:12,388 concrete projects stronger industrial capacity and long-term economic opportunities 359 00:32:12,466 --> 00:32:18,950 for Arctic regions. I'm not saying again what my dear colleague Ville Niinistö said 360 00:32:19,028 --> 00:32:25,590 about climate and environmental issues. I don't misuse your time, but I'm totally on 361 00:32:25,668 --> 00:32:31,604 the same line with him. And I think he will support me as a former transport 362 00:32:31,683 --> 00:32:35,432 minister with the transport roads in the Arctic. 363 00:32:35,510 --> 00:32:42,072 Area. I think words are not enough. We need also funding, investments and measurable 364 00:32:42,150 --> 00:32:48,321 results. And third, security and economic development must go hand in hand with 365 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:53,321 environmental responsibility and respect for local communities. 366 00:32:53,399 --> 00:32:59,883 So some people and other ingenious communities must be respected and local people m 367 00:32:59,961 --> 00:33:05,195 ust have a meaningful role in this system's affecting their future. 368 00:33:05,273 --> 00:33:06,473 Thank you. 369 00:33:08,754 --> 00:33:13,540 Thank you. And finally, for the ESN group, would somebody like to take the floor? 370 00:33:13,599 --> 00:33:18,563 That is not the case. When I now get the floor to our effort standing rapporteur for 371 00:33:18,622 --> 00:33:20,454 the Arctic, Urmas Pike, please. 372 00:33:22,794 --> 00:33:28,656 Thank you very much. Thank you, dear colleagues from the Commission and external 373 00:33:28,729 --> 00:33:32,027 action service and of course from this House. 374 00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:38,182 I have been following and dealing with Arctic issues in the European Parliament for 375 00:33:38,255 --> 00:33:44,044 the last 10 years already, so that I have seen lots of changes in the attitude, 376 00:33:44,117 --> 00:33:50,199 which is, I would say, unfortunately under g iven circumstances of course positive, 377 00:33:50,272 --> 00:33:54,522 that we pay much more attention to developments in Arctic. 378 00:33:54,595 --> 00:34:00,677 If I recall, which was the attitude and comments around 10 years ago, why at all we 379 00:34:00,751 --> 00:34:06,686 should deal with Ar ctic and if we look today that the main center is in security 380 00:34:06,759 --> 00:34:12,328 issues, then y es, we have noticed huge and then big changes in this regard. 381 00:34:12,401 --> 00:34:18,190 I'm of course very happy that finally there is also new European Union's Arctic 382 00:34:18,263 --> 00:34:24,052 strategy. Of course I fully agree that the implementation is the most important 383 00:34:24,125 --> 00:34:30,134 element here. And I just want to mention a few points where I think that comparing 384 00:34:30,207 --> 00:34:36,142 also with the European Parliament's last year's recom mendation were actually 510 385 00:34:36,216 --> 00:34:40,026 members of this House supported this recommendation. 386 00:34:40,099 --> 00:34:45,595 This is actually rather big majority. Which also expresses large and united 387 00:34:45,668 --> 00:34:50,578 understanding about Arctic developments in the European Parliament. 388 00:34:50,651 --> 00:34:54,241 Well, a few things which I still want to mention. 389 00:34:54,315 --> 00:35:00,323 Of course I understand why maybe some of them are not in this new European Union's 390 00:35:00,396 --> 00:35:05,452 Ar ctic strategy, but still I guess we should keep them in our minds. 391 00:35:05,526 --> 00:35:08,750 European Union's future, I mean enlargement. 392 00:35:08,823 --> 00:35:14,539 Yes, we got message from Iceland from August, but still I guess European Union 393 00:35:14,612 --> 00:35:20,474 itself should have its do ors open and be very welcoming and positive about this 394 00:35:20,547 --> 00:35:26,556 kind of develop ments because it's always better to have for instance two security 395 00:35:26,629 --> 00:35:32,784 nets than one. Today we have NATO, but well looking at the developments in the world 396 00:35:32,857 --> 00:35:38,719 I would say that EU in this regard is very important new contributor to European 397 00:35:38,793 --> 00:35:42,603 security. Second element energy and energy security. 398 00:35:42,676 --> 00:35:48,758 I of course share the concerns of my colleagues from Green Group and Left, but this 399 00:35:48,831 --> 00:35:53,814 is of course the issue where we have to find adequate balance point. 400 00:35:54,174 --> 00:35:59,395 Because at the same time we also speak that energy security of Europe is very 401 00:35:59,463 --> 00:36:04,684 important, but the most secure ener gy we can have is energy which comes from 402 00:36:04,752 --> 00:36:10,176 Europe. And in this regard of course Norway is very important contributor to the 403 00:36:10,244 --> 00:36:15,940 European energy security. And unfortunately whatever EU says be it moratorium, be it 404 00:36:16,008 --> 00:36:21,093 whatever, well I have my doubts that Russian or Chinese will care about it. 405 00:36:21,161 --> 00:36:26,654 So that we should avoid also the situation that with our regulations and with our 406 00:36:26,721 --> 00:36:32,417 attitude we only in final end man age to influence the most secure and environmental 407 00:36:32,485 --> 00:36:35,943 friendly energy production in North. I mean Norway. 408 00:36:36,011 --> 00:36:41,029 And the others who don't have such a high standards do whatever they want. 409 00:36:41,096 --> 00:36:45,911 So that in this sense I guess the balance point here is very important. 410 00:36:45,979 --> 00:36:51,403 Thirdly, I'm glad that also I would say finally European Commission and external 411 00:36:51,471 --> 00:36:56,353 action service are taking Arctic issues much more seriously than before. 412 00:36:56,421 --> 00:37:02,117 And in this regard I guess that also the adequate structures and empowerment of this 413 00:37:02,184 --> 00:37:07,745 field is important. Fourthly, China. We speak a lot about Russia and when we speak 414 00:37:07,812 --> 00:37:13,508 about security in Arctic, but of course we should much more also keep eye on Chinese 415 00:37:13,576 --> 00:37:19,068 activities in this regard. And to stop here I also would like to see that in this 416 00:37:19,136 --> 00:37:24,764 House before the end of this mandate we once aga in come back to Arctic issues also 417 00:37:24,832 --> 00:37:26,934 in our plenary hall. Thank you. 418 00:37:28,314 --> 00:37:32,688 Thank you, Urmas. As a Vice Chair of our Committee, you know that you can sometimes 419 00:37:32,740 --> 00:37:34,374 be generous with speaking time. 420 00:37:36,294 --> 00:37:39,805 Yes, thank you, but I felt that there is not such a strong pressure. 421 00:37:39,856 --> 00:37:41,056 But sorry, sorry. 422 00:37:43,314 --> 00:37:45,708 So thank you, Urmas. Also for your good work. 423 00:37:45,761 --> 00:37:48,048 Now, who else would like to take the floor? 424 00:37:48,101 --> 00:37:50,814 First, Hannah Jalul. Please raise your hand, Ville. 425 00:37:52,554 --> 00:37:57,435 Thank you very much. I can see from all our interventions that the main worry we 426 00:37:57,496 --> 00:38:02,621 have all of us I think here is the issue of en vironmental topic that I think all of 427 00:38:02,682 --> 00:38:07,686 us are worried with this new strategies, local communiti es, what is the guarantee 428 00:38:07,747 --> 00:38:12,689 that we respect the local communities. And something is important for us that has 429 00:38:12,750 --> 00:38:17,814 been mentioned before, a part of everything related to the environment is crit ical 430 00:38:17,875 --> 00:38:20,438 raw materials. How is this addressed here? 431 00:38:20,499 --> 00:38:23,183 What is the clear strategy on raw materials? 432 00:38:23,244 --> 00:38:28,125 I think about communities, environment, everything, but how is our policy on raw 433 00:38:28,186 --> 00:38:33,007 materials has been mentioned also. When we talk about international actors, you 434 00:38:33,068 --> 00:38:37,827 know, I know that the main worry also for us here is China, Russ ia, how these 435 00:38:37,888 --> 00:38:42,891 actors are involved there, how the European Union can have our own leverage on the 436 00:38:42,952 --> 00:38:47,894 issue. Which it is very important. And something I was reading the other day that 437 00:38:47,955 --> 00:38:52,897 maritime ro utes now that are coming from other parts of the world because of the 438 00:38:52,958 --> 00:38:57,901 defrosting and things like this that what will be very interesting to hear from y 439 00:38:57,962 --> 00:39:02,477 ou. Thank you very much and indeed because this meeting is very important. 440 00:39:02,538 --> 00:39:07,663 This is going to be a very important topic for the European Union in the next years. 441 00:39:07,724 --> 00:39:08,924 Thank you. 442 00:39:10,314 --> 00:39:11,694 Thank you, Ville, please. 443 00:39:12,714 --> 00:39:19,293 Since I'm a Danish MEP, I'm very much interested in the Greenlandic part of it. 444 00:39:19,377 --> 00:39:26,206 I visited Greenland a month ago. It was the same month where the agreement between 445 00:39:26,289 --> 00:39:31,120 the US and Greenland and Denmark was ratified in New York. 446 00:39:31,203 --> 00:39:37,949 So it was very much a sense of relief. And I think everyone who visited Greenland 447 00:39:38,032 --> 00:39:44,945 has a feeling how much threatened the population of Greenland felt in this case not 448 00:39:45,028 --> 00:39:48,693 from Russia and China but from the USA. And. 449 00:39:48,776 --> 00:39:55,272 I think it's very important therefore that the outcome of the agreement was an 450 00:39:55,356 --> 00:40:01,935 agreement that NATO sho uld play a much more central role in the defense of the 451 00:40:02,018 --> 00:40:05,683 northern of Greenland which I think is good. 452 00:40:05,766 --> 00:40:11,513 It's a good exchange for bilateral agreement between Denmark and U S. 453 00:40:11,596 --> 00:40:16,010 That it's now a multilateral agreement. That's there. 454 00:40:16,093 --> 00:40:23,089 In the what's security is concerned. Another thing worrying about the geopolitical a 455 00:40:23,172 --> 00:40:30,085 lot more difficult situation is that Greenland is only connected with two cables to 456 00:40:30,168 --> 00:40:37,164 the rest of the world. If these ones are cut the communication possibilities for big 457 00:40:37,247 --> 00:40:43,827 parts of Greenland is changed. I wonder if you have some use about what actions 458 00:40:43,910 --> 00:40:50,406 could be taken there. And then I think you are approached to this that it's we 459 00:40:50,490 --> 00:40:56,070 people living there as a central part is a very very important one. 460 00:40:56,153 --> 00:41:02,899 Because I think that's been also in the struggle with the US, the Danish approach 461 00:41:02,982 --> 00:41:08,562 that nothing there should be made without the people liv ing there. 462 00:41:08,646 --> 00:41:12,227 And I think this approach is important one. 463 00:41:12,310 --> 00:41:16,974 I think see the hammer is raised so thank you very much. 464 00:41:18,534 --> 00:41:21,678 Thank you. Who else would like to take the floor? 465 00:41:21,742 --> 00:41:27,003 Then before I hand over to our guest speakers for their closing statements of each 466 00:41:27,067 --> 00:41:32,328 five minut es, let me just also add that I very much welcome that the strategy has 467 00:41:32,392 --> 00:41:37,524 been updated and that it is a joint ownership of the European Commission and the 468 00:41:37,589 --> 00:41:42,978 European External Action Service. So we I think have a really good strategy in place 469 00:41:43,042 --> 00:41:48,431 but of course action speaks not words. And one of the first litmus tests will be how 470 00:41:48,495 --> 00:41:53,628 much of this will be seen the MFF for the next period because of course all will 471 00:41:53,692 --> 00:41:59,017 cost a lot of money. Since we're running out of time I will not go into any details 472 00:41:59,081 --> 00:42:04,278 many were addressed by the colleagues. I will close this meeting at 22 so we have 473 00:42:04,342 --> 00:42:07,101 five minutes each. Who would like to begin? 474 00:42:07,165 --> 00:42:08,365 Madame. 475 00:42:12,954 --> 00:42:18,050 Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. And thank you very much. 476 00:42:18,141 --> 00:42:25,693 Honorable members I'm very happy to see from the comments that we see eye to eye on 477 00:42:25,784 --> 00:42:32,700 the situation of the Arctic and the fact that today's strategic and security 478 00:42:32,791 --> 00:42:38,888 landscape call for revisiting seriously our approach to the Arctic. 479 00:42:38,979 --> 00:42:44,074 As Mr. Urma Pat underlined, we're not new to the Arctic. 480 00:42:44,165 --> 00:42:51,445 We started our first policy on the Arctic in 2008 and we're already at the fifth 481 00:42:51,536 --> 00:42:58,816 iteration. But gradually we increase our involvement on Arctic affairs and we've 482 00:42:58,907 --> 00:43:06,277 increased also the importance we give to security without walking back on the key 483 00:43:06,368 --> 00:43:12,010 elements that are environment, climate change, and the people. 484 00:43:12,101 --> 00:43:19,654 Someone mentioned the importance of standards and notably IMO, I want to high light 485 00:43:19,745 --> 00:43:26,751 that the Arctic is neither a place empty of people nor a place with no rules. 486 00:43:26,842 --> 00:43:34,304 There are rules supplying to the Arctic. And definitely IMO is one of the key rule 487 00:43:34,395 --> 00:43:41,311 setter for the Arctic and the shipping. And we will continue to be extremely 488 00:43:41,402 --> 00:43:49,045 involved in those framework bec ause the pollution that can come from shipping is an 489 00:43:49,136 --> 00:43:53,140 area that we can that we must keep in focus. 490 00:43:53,231 --> 00:44:00,875 A third point of partnerships. Partnerships as you've seen are central to the way we 491 00:44:00,966 --> 00:44:08,427 see our policy for the Arctic. And partnership will take a very concrete step soon 492 00:44:08,518 --> 00:44:15,707 as we prepare for the summit with Canada at the end of the month and the Arctic 493 00:44:15,798 --> 00:44:23,169 issues will be discussed with Canada. There is also a potential to strengthen our 494 00:44:23,260 --> 00:44:30,812 cooperation with the UK which is not an Arctic state but a key state in the EU gap, 495 00:44:30,903 --> 00:44:38,456 the Greenland Iceland UK gap. And as we prepare for the EU UK summit on the 20th of 496 00:44:38,547 --> 00:44:46,009 November and the security and defense partnership with the UK importantly includes 497 00:44:46,099 --> 00:44:53,743 the mention of Arctic issues. And my counterparts in the UK have already reached out 498 00:44:53,834 --> 00:45:00,477 to me to discuss how we can see and how we can collaborate on this issue. 499 00:45:00,568 --> 00:45:07,756 Norway and Iceland of course we have security and defense partnership with this 500 00:45:07,847 --> 00:45:14,763 countries. And we have already an Arctic dialogue with Norway and we wish to 501 00:45:14,854 --> 00:45:16,674 continue this dialog 502 00:45:16,734 --> 00:45:23,742 ue and with Iceland there is a whole paragraph on Arctic issues in our security and 503 00:45:23,826 --> 00:45:30,580 defense partnership with Iceland and that will be another opportunity to discuss 504 00:45:30,665 --> 00:45:37,588 what we can do together. Regarding Greenland I will leave to my colleague from the 505 00:45:37,672 --> 00:45:44,173 commission to speak about the co operation frame but we as European have been 506 00:45:44,258 --> 00:45:51,096 unambiguous in l ending our support to the kingdom of Denmark to Greenland and to 507 00:45:51,181 --> 00:45:58,273 Denmark. And we have all welcome the trilateral agreement that is streng thening the 508 00:45:58,357 --> 00:46:04,943 security in the Arctic and we will continue to stay with behind the kingdom of 509 00:46:05,027 --> 00:46:08,826 Denmark. The kingdom of Denmark has our back. 510 00:46:08,911 --> 00:46:16,003 And to conclude on the implementation we've worked very closely with all services of 511 00:46:16,087 --> 00:46:22,588 the comm ission to produce this strategy and we will continue to work for its 512 00:46:22,673 --> 00:46:29,596 implementation. You are right that implementation will be key and you are right to 513 00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:36,181 mention that the MFF will be key. Some actions can already be taken under the 514 00:46:36,266 --> 00:46:43,189 current MFF. For example adding some satellites to increase the observation of the 515 00:46:43,273 --> 00:46:50,112 Arctic territor y. But some will need to be backed by the future financing of the 516 00:46:50,196 --> 00:46:56,951 EU. Highlighting also that the foreign affair council will now follow up on this 517 00:46:57,035 --> 00:47:04,043 strategy and as the foreign affair council follows up on this strategy I hope and I 518 00:47:04,127 --> 00:47:10,628 look forward to stay in conta ct with the AFET and the European Parliament to 519 00:47:10,713 --> 00:47:14,934 prepare for those conclusion. Thank you very much. 520 00:47:16,614 --> 00:47:19,033 Sure. We will certainly remain in contact. 521 00:47:19,091 --> 00:47:21,625 This topic is always high on our agenda. Mr. 522 00:47:21,683 --> 00:47:22,883 Gray please. 523 00:47:23,994 --> 00:47:30,916 Thank you and I would like to thank the Honorable Members for their extremely 524 00:47:31,006 --> 00:47:38,378 salient points on many ke y issues. I'm going to start with the chair's firstly in 525 00:47:38,468 --> 00:47:45,929 terms of the MFF I think we would love to be able to put a bill in the text and say 526 00:47:46,019 --> 00:47:53,301 this is where it will all come from. I think we would argue that its simply under 527 00:47:53,391 --> 00:47:58,515 lines the wisdom of the commission's proposal on the MFF. 528 00:47:58,605 --> 00:48:06,067 In the sense of you can see actions here that will require funding from heading one 529 00:48:06,157 --> 00:48:13,528 from heading two from heading three it will require a mobilization of member state 530 00:48:13,618 --> 00:48:21,170 funding and of course we have already the very clear commitment of the commission on 531 00:48:21,260 --> 00:48:25,575 Greenland to double the funding in the next MFF. 532 00:48:25,665 --> 00:48:32,587 So I think from our side there is a very clear will and I think we hope ver y 533 00:48:32,677 --> 00:48:39,779 strongly that that logic in terms of an issue like the Ar ctic is underlined as 534 00:48:39,869 --> 00:48:47,150 final decisions are taken on the budget. My second point I want to bring together 535 00:48:47,240 --> 00:48:54,612 Greenland and people bec ause I very much agree with the assessment that basically 536 00:48:54,702 --> 00:49:02,164 anything we try to do in this strategy we need to do it together with the people of 537 00:49:02,253 --> 00:49:09,715 the Arctic. Because only they really understand I think the challenges that we face 538 00:49:09,805 --> 00:49:17,357 on a whole series of particular issues and that's why it's so important that we work 539 00:49:17,446 --> 00:49:24,728 so closely together. That's why there's a lot of emphasis in the communication in 540 00:49:24,818 --> 00:49:28,953 the final chapter on dialog ue and engagement. 541 00:49:29,043 --> 00:49:34,078 A very particular focus on engagement with young people. 542 00:49:34,168 --> 00:49:41,719 I think both the high representative but also the commissioner have spent quite some 543 00:49:41,809 --> 00:49:49,091 time in their engagements tal king to young people across the Arctic to very much 544 00:49:49,181 --> 00:49:53,136 try to listen and understand their concerns. 545 00:49:53,226 --> 00:49:59,969 I want to move next to the climate. I'd like to already state that from our 546 00:50:00,058 --> 00:50:06,801 perspective we do not see a backtracking. I think it was very important the 547 00:50:06,891 --> 00:50:14,173 statement that was made that you need to look at the geopolitical and the climate 548 00:50:14,263 --> 00:50:21,814 together. There is a complete a full chapter in the communication on the climate and 549 00:50:21,904 --> 00:50:26,309 that to be very open was done very intentionally. 550 00:50:26,399 --> 00:50:30,714 We wanted to send a very clear message of the un 551 00:50:30,834 --> 00:50:34,747 precedented scale of the challenge we see and. 552 00:50:34,832 --> 00:50:41,723 If you look at AMOC and the discussions that are taking place on that and you see 553 00:50:41,808 --> 00:50:48,869 ver y quickly the real climate emergency we face the same deb ate on permafrost the 554 00:50:48,954 --> 00:50:56,015 same debate on pollution and that is why you will see through th roughout this text 555 00:50:56,100 --> 00:51:03,161 a set of key deliverables on the climate itself but then as you look at each one of 556 00:51:03,246 --> 00:51:08,606 the sectors the climate dimension is very much reflected there. 557 00:51:08,691 --> 00:51:15,837 As has been mentioned by the special envoy I think the IMO regulations point when we 558 00:51:15,922 --> 00:51:22,642 look at pol lution when we look at emissions of black carbon emissions from the 559 00:51:22,727 --> 00:51:27,661 Arctic very clearly set out also within the communication. 560 00:51:27,746 --> 00:51:34,722 Of course it would be remiss of me not to mention the question of hydrocarb ons in 561 00:51:34,807 --> 00:51:41,953 the Arctic there's been a lot of press coverage as there was I think always going to 562 00:51:42,038 --> 00:51:47,993 be whatever the language was there I think yeah the president the high 563 00:51:48,078 --> 00:51:54,969 representative the commissioner have been very clear on this if you take the text 564 00:51:55,054 --> 00:52:01,945 that's in the communication and you compare it to 2021 it is the same language on 565 00:52:02,030 --> 00:52:08,921 the EU's commitment ex actly the same language on the EU yeah the EU policy where 566 00:52:09,006 --> 00:52:16,152 there is a difference is indeed on the fact that we have not been able to reach that 567 00:52:16,237 --> 00:52:23,213 multilateral legal obligation and that 's why there is different language and that 568 00:52:23,298 --> 00:52:30,104 does reflect also the energy security angle which is important wh y you see that 569 00:52:30,189 --> 00:52:35,718 language but in terms of the EU's commitment it is crystal clear. 570 00:52:35,803 --> 00:52:37,003 Thank you. 571 00:52:38,514 --> 00:52:42,276 Thank you to both speakers. There are no further comments from your side. 572 00:52:42,328 --> 00:52:46,657 Is there anything to raise under any other business that is not the case then let me 573 00:52:46,708 --> 00:52:50,986 announce the date of our next meeting that will be on the 3rd of November 2026 from 574 00:52:51,037 --> 00:52:53,666 9 to half past 12 and from 3 to 5 in the afternoon. 575 00:52:53,717 --> 00:52:57,892 This meeting will take place in Brussels. The meeting is closed and let's now all 576 00:52:57,943 --> 00:52:59,143 rush to the plenary. 577 00:53:01,074 --> 00:53:02,274 Thank you.