On the recommendation for the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the recommendation for the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic

(2025/2116(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Arctic issues, notably its resolution of 7 October 2021 on the Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges,

– having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 13 October 2021 entitled ‘A stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic’ (JOIN(2021)0027),

– having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0000/2025),

A. whereas the Arctic must remain a zone of peace and constructive cooperation;

B. whereas scrupulous respect for international law – notably the UNCLOS – is essential;

C. whereas the region is warming at roughly four times the global average;

D. whereas the rapid retreat of sea ice is opening seasonal, and potentially year-round, commercial corridors such as the Northern Sea Route, the Northwest Passage and a future trans-polar route, which could reshape global trade patterns while posing profound environmental, security and governance challenges for the Arctic;

E. whereas Russia has markedly expanded its Arctic force posture and heightened regional military tension;

F. whereas China proclaimed a ‘Polar Silk Road’ and is steadily increasing its footprint north of the Arctic Circle;

G. whereas Indigenous peoples hold irreplaceable traditional knowledge, act as primary stewards of Arctic ecosystems and are disproportionately affected by climate change, socio-economic marginalisation and environmental degradation, while often remaining excluded from decision-making processes;

H. whereas Greenland will chair the Arctic Council for 2025-2027 on behalf of the Kingdom of Denmark, providing a pivotal opportunity to reinforce inclusive, rules-based Arctic governance;

I. whereas the Arctic’s abundant hydrocarbons, rare-earth elements, fisheries and other resources are increasingly coveted, necessitating stringent sustainability standards and equitable benefit-sharing;

J. whereas energy connections with the Arctic, including oil and gas imports from Norway’s Barents Sea, liquefied natural gas shipments via Arctic shipping routes, renewable energy exports and green hydrogen potential from Iceland and Greenland, EU-backed infrastructure projects such as submarine cables and pipelines, and cooperation in research and innovation for sustainable development are crucial for the EU’s energy security and future economic development;

K. whereas initiatives such as Polar Connect and Vision 2030 propose undersea cables across the Arctic Ocean, linking Greenland and Iceland to continental Europe by 2030;

L. whereas EU-funded research, Horizon Europe partnerships and Copernicus satellite services provide essential data for climate resilience, navigation safety and environmental stewardship in the High North;

1. Recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

a) acknowledge the growing militarisation of the Arctic, particularly due to Russia’s extensive military restructuring, including the establishment of the Maritime Collegium, which has further escalated regional tensions and undermined regional stability; work together with the Member States and NATO allies to strengthen deterrent capabilities in response;

b) in the light of recent incidents in the Baltic sea, substantially strengthen protection of essential underwater infrastructure in the Arctic, particularly submarine cables and pipelines, to uphold and enforce obligations under Articles 112–115 of the UNCLOS, which are essential to safeguard Europe’s digital and energy interconnectivity from geopolitical disruption;

c) recognise increased geopolitical competition along Arctic maritime routes, particularly the Northern Sea Route; support, therefore, diplomatic dialogues aimed at establishing clear international agreements regarding freedom of navigation and peaceful maritime cooperation, resisting unilateral claims and promoting the application of international maritime law in accordance with UNCLOS;

d) given the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Arctic, in cooperation with international partners, urgently enhance adaptation strategies, support extensive monitoring initiatives and significantly increase investments in research programmes;

e) given the significance of Arctic natural resources, including hydrocarbons, rare earth elements and fisheries, and together with the Member States, strengthen partnerships with Greenland and other Arctic stakeholders on sustainable resource extraction, adhering strictly to environmental regulations;

f) in the light of Parliament’s deep concern about Greenland’s growing geopolitical significance, exacerbated by external actors’ statements questioning Denmark’s constitutional arrangements, reaffirm respect for Greenland’s right to self-determination, emphasising that decisions regarding Greenland’s constitutional future and international relations must be made exclusively by Greenlandic citizens without external pressure;

g) given the need to respect and promote the rights of Indigenous peoples across the Arctic, work towards the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in environmental and policy-making processes;

h) in the light of the critical role played by international scientific cooperation in Arctic governance and climate understanding, support continued EU funding and active participation in Arctic research projects and scientific dialogues, and promote open data sharing and the integration of scientific findings into policy-making processes;

i) in the light of the growing support for EU accession in Iceland, welcome the intention expressed by local authorities to hold a referendum on EU accession by 2027 and pledge to respect the outcome thereof, as democratically expressed by the Icelandic people; meanwhile, engage proactively with the Icelandic Government to promote the benefits of EU membership and enhance preparedness for a renewed accession process should Iceland formally reactivate its application;

j) considering that Norway’s EU membership would strengthen both its national interests and the EU’s geopolitical resilience by closing critical gaps in the latter’s collective defence (notably on the GIUK gap), explore deeper cooperation with Norway, including the possible extension to Norway of Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union and Norway’s potential EU accession;

k) given Norway’s crucial role for the EU’s energy security, enhance cooperation on energy resilience and supply diversification as a key tool towards the EU’s strategic autonomy;

l) in the light of the increasing relevance of Greenland in Arctic and European security frameworks, alongside increasing support for EU accession among Greenlanders, evidenced by polling suggesting that around 60 % of Greenlanders now favour rejoining the EU, welcome any potential initiative by the Government of Greenland to strengthen its political, institutional and economic links with the EU, and encourage the EU to engage in deeper strategic and economic partnerships, including in the context of eventual accession, if and when desired by the Greenlandic people; in this regard, underlines that EU membership would give Greenland a stronger voice in Arctic governance and the means to develop critical infrastructure as new northern trade routes emerge while bolstering its security;

m) strengthen collaboration with Canada;

2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and, for information, to the governments and parliaments of Arctic states, as well as to Indigenous representative organisations.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Arctic is rapidly becoming a strategic theatre of geopolitical competition, military build up, energy transformation, and global environmental change. This recommendation by the European Parliament underscores the urgent need for a robust, security-oriented EU strategy that ensures the Arctic remains governed by the principles of international law, sustainable principles, and peace.

Security concerns are intensifying. Russia’s continued military build-up, including the formation of a Maritime Collegium, has significantly escalated tensions. At the same time, China’s Polar Silk Road strategy increases its economic and technological footprint in the region. These developments call for stronger EU coordination with Member States and NATO allies to deter threats, defend common interests, and protect critical infrastructure—particularly submarine cables and pipelines essential for digital and energy connectivity. The EU must also enhance surveillance, resilience, and deterrence capabilities in close coordination with Arctic partners.

Sustainable energy policies are important to EU-Arctic cooperation. The region provides critical resources for Europe’s strategic autonomy, including Norwegian LNG, Icelandic and Greenlandic renewables, and vast potential for green hydrogen production. Projects such as Polar Connect and Vision 2030 envision a digitally and energetically connected Arctic, directly tied to EU security and sustainability goals. Strengthening partnerships in this domain is key to reducing reliance on external authoritarian powers.

The legal framework for Arctic governance must remain anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The EU must resist unilateral claims, promote freedom of navigation, and support diplomatic engagement to uphold maritime law and environmental stewardship.

The Parliament also highlights the shifting political momentum toward deeper EU integration in the Arctic. The doors of the EU are open for Iceland, Norway and Greenland to join the EU. The expected referendum in Iceland on EU accession by 2027 and increasing support in Greenland for closer ties—potentially including EU membership—creates a momentum for renewed engagement. The EU should express readiness to support these aspirations, respecting democratic will and offering concrete benefits through deeper political, economic, and security cooperation. Norway, as a critical energy and defence partner, should also be engaged on long-term strategic alignment and even accession, should political conditions evolve.

The rights and knowledge of Arctic Indigenous Peoples must be protected and respected. They are essential stewards of the region’s ecosystems and must be fully included in decision-making processes. Their inclusion in international governance structures is not only a matter of justice, but also of policy effectiveness.

In conclusion, the EU must seize this moment to assert a clear, values-based, and security-conscious Arctic strategy—anchored in international law, guided by sustainability, and open to deepening partnerships, including eventual EU enlargement in the region.

ANNEX: DECLARATIONS OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.