About: Arctic
New treaty bans commercial fishing in the Arctic for 16 years
The European Union and nine other countries, including the US and Russia, approved an international agreement on Thursday (14 February) that will prohibit commercial vessels from fishing in the Arctic in order to preserve the region's fragile ecosystem.
Trans-Europe Express – Songs about land and ice
Northern Europe's indigenous Arctic people battle to maintain traditions as their culture and age-old way of life is increasingly threatened by climate change and globalisation.
Antibiotic resistance, a threat crossing borders
The rapid spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria via birds could compromise the effectiveness of many anti-infective drugs. EURACTIV France’s media partner, the Journal de l’environnement reports.
Arctic nations bet on ‘blue economy’ to reconcile climate, development goals
From global warming to over- and illegal fishing, the ocean on which Arctic communities are so heavily dependent is under threat like never before, delegates heard at the Arctic conference in Tromsø, Norway.
Snow crab case to decide who has the right to explore for Arctic oil
Norway’s Supreme Court will on Tuesday (15 January) hear arguments on whether EU ships can fish for snow crab off Arctic islands north of Norway without permission from Oslo, a case that could decide who has the right to explore for oil in the region.
Shipping giant announces trial run of Arctic sea route
Danish shipping company Maersk will this week send for the first time one of its ships along the Northern Sea Route, an Arctic shipping lane along Russia’s northern coastline that is set to become more important as climate change makes it more viable.
Greece seeks help from EU allies to tackle raging fires
Greece has appealed for help from other countries to help tackle a spate of fires which were raging uncontrolled in the country on Monday (23 July), its fire brigade said.
Faria MEP: Offshore Safety Directive is ripe for reform
The Portuguese lawmaker behind the most recent European Parliament resolution on the safety of offshore drilling, told EURACTIV why he opposes moves to open up oil and gas fields in European waters, not least in his home country Portugal.
China in Greenland: A call for deeper EU political engagement
Without a deeper political agenda, the EU might rapidly lose ground in Greenland to the benefit of China, write André Gattolin and Damien Degeorges.
Extreme weather events on the rise, European scientists warn
Extreme weather events are on the rise due to man-made climate change, according to a consensus report by Europe's scientific academies, which called for urgent action to make sure infrastructure and society itself is ready to adapt to the new climate.
UN Arctic chief: ‘Climate change isn’t linear – it’s accelerating’
Climate change is most evident in the Polar Regions and its impact will serve as a litmus test for what happens to the rest of the planet, the UN’s chief Arctic adviser told EURACTIV in an interview.
The Arctic: Rebooting the European software
After failing again to become a permanent observer to the Arctic Council, the European Union needs to rethink itself when it comes to the Arctic, write André Gattolin and Damien Degeorges.
The omissions of the EU’s new Arctic policy
Nations both close and distant to the Arctic Circle are increasingly becoming engaged in the North, as the European Union’s new policy for the Arctic shows. The plan is a step forward, but it speaks volumes by what it leaves out, writes Antonia Sohns.
EU wants to boost Arctic ties with Russia despite Ukraine tensions
The EU is ready to step up cooperation with Russia on the future of the Arctic despite tensions between Brussels and Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine, foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Wednesday (27 April).
Norwegian energy minister: We will drill until gas reserves run out
Norway will be on its last third of natural gas reserves by 2035, much of it in the Arctic, and almost all of it destined for the EU market, the country’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy told EURACTIV in an interview. Tord Lien said production would stop once the reserves were gone.
Killing three birds with one stone in the Arctic
The use of heavy fuel oil by shipping in the Arctic could have disastrous consequences. Banning this fuel would protect the region’s rich wildlife, improve human health and benefit the climate, writes Sue Libenson.
Norway demands answers from Moscow over Arctic migrant route
An increasingly popular route for migrants to cross Russia and into Norway has Oslo angered and worried as winter approaches, while commentators suspect Moscow is deliberately creating problems for its neighbour.
Think tank: NATO and Russia need new rules to avoid war
Russia and NATO must agree on common rules to handle unexpected military encounters to reduce the risk of inadvertently triggering a war between Moscow and the West, a group of former foreign and defence ministers said today (26 August).
Polar bears suffer from cooling of Russia-NATO relations
A mission to assess the polar bear population in the Barents Sea has been partially cancelled, after Russia refused Norwegian scientists access to its territory. EURACTIV France reports.
Greenpeace India could close within a month due to government crackdown
Greenpeace India will be forced to close within a month with the loss of 340 jobs because of a government crackdown on its funding, the organisation’s chief has warned.EU and the Arctic: from ‘rule maker’ to ‘growth facilitator’?
The EU confirmed its engagement in Arctic development by securing an ambitious, new EU-Greenland Partnership Agreement for 2014-2020. The European Parliament also passed a new resolution on the Arctic. However, the challenge for the EU is to be perceived as a ‘growth facilitator’ rather than as a ‘rule maker’ in the region, writes Damien Degeorges.Greenland and the Arctic: Still a role for the EU
As the financing of major projects in Greenland will probably come from Asia and given Greenland’s characteristics, the self-ruled territory needs to strengthen its political ties with its direct neighbourhood and historical partners: the Nordic region, the European Union and the United States, writes Damien Degeorges.The Arctic Council needs to open up
Set up initially as an intergovernmental forum to promote cooperation among Arctic states, the Council is failing to adequately accommodate rising interest from outside the region and needs reform, argues, Roderick Kefferpütz.