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Tag: Foreign Affairs

  • Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce

    Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce

    The world globe

    A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of an Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce (IACC) was signed Wednesday, 24th April, by the Icelandic Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

    The establishment of the IACC presents a milestone in the implementation of Iceland’s Arctic Policy, the goal of the present project being to develop and strengthen economic cooperation within the Arctic region, endeavoring to secure Icelandic competitiveness with regard to business opportunities emerging with increased economic activity in the Arctic.

    The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will operate similarly to bilateral Chambers of Commerce already active under ICC’s wing, creating a platform for connections between enterprises and companies all over Iceland, stakeholders in the increased economic activities in the Arctic region, as well as serving as an information center for arctic issues.

    The IACC will furthermore work closely with Icelandic authorities, Universities and research forums as well as other interested parties, to encourage lucrative, yet responsible harnessing of business opportunities in the Arctic, for the long term benefit of the Icelandic economy as well as for the Icelandic society in general.

    The present initiative creates an important venue for cooperation between Icelandic businesses and parties specialized in Arctic affairs, and not least an international cooperation network. The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will be formally launched at a meeting mid-May, where a board of directors will be chosen to further the project.

    Source

    Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs

  • Trans Arctic Agenda: Challenges of Development, Security, Cooperation

    Trans Arctic Agenda: Challenges of Development, Security, Cooperation

    University of Iceland

    On Monday, 18-19 March 2013 a high-level seminar hosted by the Institute for International Affairs and Centre for Arctic Policy Studies, University of Iceland (IIA/CAPS), and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) – in cooperation with the Swedish and Icelandic Ministries for Foreign Affairs. The event will be held at Radisson Blu Hotel Saga.

    Keynote addresses by HE Mr. Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden and

    HE Mr. Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland

    The Arctic, where ice has so far been a barrier, could become an open bridge in the future between widely separated and different nations. Ice melting at sea and on land will open up new trans-Arctic transport routes and give access to new mineral and fishery resources, even while it disrupts traditional habitats.

    Whether fast or slow, these changes will affect first and foremost the countries around the North Pole who already cooperate through the Arctic Council. Yet the Arctic is also part of the wider world. New transport routes and tourism will attract both suppliers and customers from outside the region. Possible new Arctic energy production will affect the global energy balance and be affected by it. A badly managed Arctic would be a legitimate concern for the whole international community.

    Arctic coast and sea ice

    The Trans-Arctic conference will bring together experts and policy-formers from all the large and small nations most interested in Arctic developments. It will not look for national differences but for common agendas. It will ask if current governance methods are coping with the growing agenda or if not, what more could be done to ease cooperation at the state, business, and popular levels. It will end with special emphasis on the roles of the small Nordic states, and of Iceland itself – the only sovereign nation to lie entirely within the Arctic.

    Further information and a conference programme is available on the website of the Institute of International Affairs at: www.ams.hi.is

    The conference is open to all but we kindly ask you to register your attendance for planning purposes by sending us an email at ams@hi.is. no later than March 15.

    Sources

    Institute of International Affairs
    Centre for Small State Studies

    University of Iceland

  • The EU outlines its policy for the Arctic

    The EU outlines its policy for the Arctic

    The arctic

    The European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have today outlined the way forward for the EU’s constructive engagement in the Arctic.

    A press release reads that “the Arctic region is a vital component of the Earth’s environment. Climate change in the Arctic is advancing dramatically, with change visible on a yearly basis, impacting significantly on its ecosystem and the livelihood of its inhabitants. At the same time, rapidly retreating sea ice alongside technological progress are opening up new economic opportunities in the region such as shipping, mining, energy extraction and fishing. While beneficial for the global economy, these activities also call for a prudent and sustainable approach: further repercussions for the fragile Arctic can be expected if top environmental standards are not met.”

    Summarized in three words, ”knowledge, responsibility, engagement”, the strategy adopted today contains a set of tangible actions that contribute to research and sustainable development in the region and promote environmentally friendly technologies that could be used for sustainable shipping and mining. It also underlines the EU’s activities in the Arctic since 2008. For example, the EU has made a contribution of 20 million EUR per year in Arctic research over the last decade and has invested more than 1.14 billion EUR in the sustainable development of the region since 2007.

    Catherine Ashton, the EU’s High Representative and Vice-President of the Commission stated: “With the actions presented today, we want to show the world that the EU is serious about its commitments towards the Arctic region. Developments in the Arctic add further urgency to our work to combat global climate change, and are of increasing strategic, economic and environmental importance to the European Union. The EU wants to make a positive contribution to the cooperation between the Arctic states and take into account the needs of indigenous and local communities inhabiting Arctic areas”.

    Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki said: “The Arctic is rapidly going through important changes, allowing for new economic activity in a fragile part of the world. There are environmental challenges and opportunities that require global attention and the EU can help substantially: in research, funding, combating global warming and developing greener technologies. This is what the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy is all about, to contribute to common solutions for the sustainable management of the seas.”

    The Communication contains a series of measures to support the effective stewardship of the Arctic. They include:

    • Support of Arctic research under the Commission’s proposed 80 billion EUR Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (see IP/11/1475);
    • Contribution to search and rescue in the Arctic through the launch of the next-generation observation satellites (see IP/11/1477);
    • Stepping up of actions to combat climate change;
    • Use of EU’s funding opportunities to maximize sustainable development in the Arctic for the benefit of local and indigenous communities;
    • Promotion and development of environmentally friendly technologies that could be used by extractive industries in the Arctic;
    • Enhancing of bilateral dialogue on Arctic issues with Canada, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation and the United States, including by applying for permanent observer status in the Arctic Council;
    • Stepping up of efforts to hold regular dialogue with representatives of indigenous peoples organizations on EU policies and programmes;

    In total, the Communication contains 28 action points, the highlights are:

    • Climate change: the EU, on track to meet its Kyoto target, has incorporated its 20% greenhouse gas reduction commitment into law and remains committed to the long-term target of 80-95% reduction of its emissions by 2050.
    • Sustainable development: for the 2007 – 2013 financial period, the EU provides over €1.14 billion to develop the economic, social and environmental potential of the Arctic regions of the EU and neighbouring areas.
    • Research: The EU has made a leading contribution on Arctic research over the last ten years, contributing around 200 million EUR of EU funds to international research activities in the Arctic.

    The European Parliament and the EU Member States are now invited to submit their views on the proposed actions. The Communication also kick-starts a dialogue and consultation process with the Arctic countries, indigenous peoples and other interested parties to further refine the EU’s policy towards the Arctic.

    Source

    European Commission