EU Unveils New Arctic Strategy

The European Commission launched yesterday its new Arctic Strategy, including 39 actions focusing on climate change, environmental protection, sustainable development and international cooperation. 

The Arctic Strategy calls for measures to address black carbon and methane emissions, but also to guarantee safe and secure maritime activities in the Arctic. The focus is also put on the security threats linked with using the North East Passage and the complex search and rescue operations in the region. Moreover, the strategy encourages the creation of a European Arctic Forum.

Reflecting on this strategy, Danish Shipowners’ Association believes that EU actions must be in line with the work of the Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

“The EU’s Arctic strategy is an interesting and broad initiative which reflects a greater European focus on this important region. The EU must, however, be careful not to take too many parallel initiatives in the Arctic, which will compete with existing and successful forums, such as the Arctic Council,” Simon C. Bergulf, Director EU Affairs for the Danish Shipowners’ Association, comments.

Bergulf points out that the Arctic policy and legislation should be formulated at international level and on the basis of cooperation between the Arctic states. Therefore, the EU role should primarily be to support this international approach.

“The IMO and the Arctic Council have shown their ability to discuss the many complex issues faced in the Arctic. It should, therefore, be ensured that international regulations have priority over regional rules, which could not be enforced as effectively. The EU should instead focus on the areas where it can really add value. E.g.by supporting research and development as well as investments in various forms of infrastructure in the Arctic,” Bergulf adds.

In addition, a group consisting of eight environmental NGOs, including Bellona Foundation, Environmental Investigation Agency, Friends of the Earth (US), Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU), Pacific Environment, Seas At Risk, Transport & Environment, and WWF, welcomed the European Commission’s focus on climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and on protecting the environment in its new strategy.

However, the NGOs say that the EU’s failure to push for a ban on the use by ships of heavy fuel oil (HFO), a toxic pollutant, when operating in the Arctic is a major cause of concern. Therefore, they are calling for Arctic states and EU member states to support a rapid elimination of the use of HFO by ships in the region.

“Following the move in the Antarctic, a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil by ships in the sensitive Arctic polar region would go a significant way to tackling environmental pollution there, help prevent the acceleration of global warming and reduce the impacts of spills in the event of a shipping accident. Europe must join international efforts to ensure that the use of this, the dirtiest of fuels, is banned from the region,” Bill Hemmings, shipping director at Transport & Environment said.