Our Arctic Neighbors: EU tests waters of Arctic debate

The European Union has taken a first step towards drawing up a policy on the Arctic with a paper published in November that includes ideas on oil and gas development. Support for the exploitation of Arctic hydrocarbon resources should take into account the particular vulnerability of the region, and the EU edge in technologies for sustainable exploitation of resources in polar conditions should be maintained, the European Commission’s paper says.

The Commission’s proposals on oil and gas, addressed to the European Parliament and the Arctic Council, include “working to strengthen the foundations for long-term cooperation, particularly with Norway and the Russian Federation. … As elsewhere, the guiding principles will be a level playing field and reciprocal market access.”

The EU should also press for the introduction of binding international environmental standards, building on the guidelines of the Arctic Council and relevant international conventions; promote further research and development in offshore technology and infrastructures; and encourage the growth of maritime clusters where universities and research centers can provide trained staff and research facilities to smaller companies, the paper says. Much of the innovation will be driven by small and medium-sized enterprises in regional clusters, it adds.

—Sarah Hurst