Why the Arctic matters to Europe. An EU policy for sustainable development and cooperative security, by Federica Mogherini and Karmenu Vella. - Main contents

If there is one place in the world where climate change is plainly visible, it is the Arctic region. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. The winter ice has lost an area of over one million square kilometres - the size of France and Germany combined.

The impact is increasingly clear in Europe too: the drier summers, the shorter winters, the frequent floods and storms we have been experiencing of late - all are a product of this massive Arctic thaw, which alters ocean currents and weather patterns on a global scale.

But our concern for the Arctic is not only an environmental one. Our own security and prosperity are at stake: it is high time for an integrated European policy for the Arctic. We need a policy that champions social and economic development for the entire region above the polar circle. A responsible policy for the Arctic ecosystem. But also a policy that recognises the Arctic's strategic value for regional and global security, and its crucial place in our foreign policy.

Today, we jointly present an integrated European policy for the Arctic. The moment has come to push for more decisive climate action specifically in an Artic context, building on the momentum of the Paris agreement. The deal reached in December on the collective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was signed last Friday by over 170 parties, including the European Union, in the largest ever one-day signing of an international agreement. It was a huge success, but we cannot stop here: we, in Europe and worldwide, have to implement and actually deliver on the promises made in Paris.

The Arctic itself can become a global beacon for sustainable development. Four million people live there: their livelihoods, indeed their way of life, is changing. Their region can be a fresh source of clean energy practices, including offshore wind, wave and geothermal power. The northernmost part of our Union has proved fertile ground for innovative technologies, and we must make sure they are granted effective access to the Single Market. Nature tourism has taken off in Iceland and Lapland, with a positive impact on the local economy, and can still be further developed.

Denmark, Sweden and Finland, the three Arctic States in the European Union, are in a privileged position to pursue these opportunities. Together we can be a driving force towards sustainable economic development, which safeguards the very fragile Arctic environment, moves towards a more circular economy and respects the rights of indigenous peoples. Some of them are citizens of our Union: their culture is our culture, it is part of who we are. Safeguarding their centuries-old traditions and their livelihoods is a core commitment for the European Union. Our dialogue with their representatives has been important in the making of our new policy, and it will be an essential part of our future engagement in the Arctic.

The European Fund for Regional Development is to invest more than one billion euros in the north of Sweden and Finland by 2020. At least another €40 million will go to Arctic research in 2016 and 2017 alone, while various European Structural and Investment Funds are supporting climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

International dialogue must be the main way to drive sustainability forward through consensus. So far, the Arctic has been a primary example of constructive regional and international cooperation. The challenges we all face become more complex by the day: it is even more important to engage with all relevant players, to craft common positions and make collaborative solutions emerge. This is true for environmental protection and scientific research, but also for the safety and security of all maritime activities in the Arctic. The region lays at the intersection of three continents: what happens above the polar circle impacts on the whole of Europe and the world. We cannot shy away from our responsibilities.

Our commitment shall not waver; it must be strengthened. This is the rationale of the Joint Communication that we are now presenting to the Council and the European Parliament. Our planet gets smaller every day. The people and ecosystems of the Arctic feel the influence of our emissions, our plastic bags, our industrialised fishing. Our footprint in the Arctic snow can sometimes be too big.

At the same time, our lives depend on the well-being of this region. A safe Arctic is not only vital to all who live there, but also to the whole of Europe and the rest of the world. Our policies can and must safeguard this fragile region for present and future generations. Today's Joint Communication addresses these many challenges to ensure cooperation at an international level, promote sustainable living and ensure a better future for the Arctic - that is, a better future for us all.