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EU needs to play stronger role in Arctic
last update: Jun 23, 2009 08:44 AM
From an "TopNews.in" article: Ten days before the Sweden is to take over the EU's rotating presidency, the Swedish Foreign Minister said that the EU needs to take an stronger Arctic role.
Carl Bildt told journalists in Brussels, Belgium that the European Union should play a stronger role in the strategically vital High Arctic, especially if Iceland applies for membership. He added "We consider it essential that the EU and European Commission (the EU's executive) be active in these areas as well."
He continued saying that there are "lots of important Arctic issues" on the international agenda, such as energy supplies, transport routes and climate change, and it is "important to begin the debate" within the EU.
Iceland is expected to apply for EU membership before the autumn, which, according to Bildt "could over time perhaps give the EU a more direct role in the Arctic than we have today."
The EU was blocked earlier this year by the Arctic Council from becoming an observer in the main forum of Arctic states, in a row with Canada over the EU's ban on seal-fur products.
According to observers, that it would strengthen the EU's hand in the Arctic greatly if Iceland were to join the bloc.
Article:
TopNews.in, 22nd June 2009
