Statement by Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP on EU Arctic policy

The European Union has a central role to play in Arctic policy. Two Arctic states — Iceland and Norway — are members of the European Economic Area. EU policies in areas such as the environment, climate change, energy, research, transport and fisheries have a direct bearing on the Arctic.

In my capacity as the Chairman of the European Parliament delegation to Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and the European Economic Area, I am the representative of the European Parliament on the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic region. In this capacity, I would like to inform the house today that in September this year, the European Parliament in Brussels will host the bi-annual meeting of the Parliamentarians of the Arctic region.

Preparation meetings will be held in Washington next week and in Oslo closer to September. I believe that this initiative is of great importance for the European Parliament and indeed the European Union in general.

The Standing Committee is an ideal basis for developing a greater understanding of the issues involved as it enables parliamentarians from across the vast region of the Arctic to forge and strengthen ties.

ENDS