Adoption of a resolution on the integrated EU policy for the Arctic

The European Parliament's foreign affairs and environment committees adopted on 31 January 2017 a resolution on the European Union's integrated policy for the Arctic region.

The text argues that the EU should speak with one voice and push to keep the Arctic an area of cooperation, in the context of growing geopolitical important of the region. MEPs considered that climate change effects and competition for natural resources bring added environmental and security risks for the Arctic and the world.

The resolution is a response to the proposal from the European Commission published in April 2016. The Council of the European Union discussed this draft text in June 2016. The Parliament's plenary session further discussed and later adopted the resolution on 16 March 2017.

• Primary Source

EP: EPRS: Briefing, January 2017: Arctic continental shelf claims: Mapping interests in the circumpolar North http://www.europeansources.info/record/arctic-continental-shelf-claims-mapping-interests-in-the-circumpolar-north/

ESO: Background information: EU regional policy in the Arctic http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-regional-policy-in-the-arctic/

European Parliament: Press Release, 31.01.17: Arctic: environment and foreign affairs committees calls for rapid action to protect the region http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170127STO60014/

European Parliament: Press Release, 15.03.17: Arctic: MEPs debate strategy to prevent conflicts over polar region heating up http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170310STO66174/

European Parliament: Press Release, 31.01.17: Protect the Arctic from emerging risks, urge MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170130IPR60273/

EUObserver, 16.03.17: MEPs vote to ban Arctic oil drilling https://euobserver.com/environment/137263

---