Brussels, 8 February 2023
Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, is in Nuuk, Greenland, today and tomorrow where he participates in the EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous People’s Dialogue. The high-level event is organised jointly by the Commission and the Government of Greenland. A broad range of participants active on Arctic matters representing governments, international organisations, civil society, industry, research, indigenous and local communities will be part of the discussions.
Commissioner Sinkevičius will deliver several speeches and have discussions on developments in the Arctic and the state of implementation of actions under the Joint Communication on ‘A stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic’ that the Commission adopted in October 2021. The Arctic is changing rapidly, under the impact of global warming and environmental degradation, growing competition for resources and geopolitical rivalries. Mindful of those changes, the EU would like to contribute to maintaining peaceful and constructive dialogue and cooperation in the Arctic, address the ecological, social, economic and political challenges arising as a consequence of climate change and take strong action to tackle climate change and environmental degradation, and finally support the inclusive and sustainable development of the Arctic focusing on the needs of Indigenous Peoples.
In addition, the Commissioner will meet Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Høgni Hoydal, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Faroe Islands with whom he will discuss the Arctic and sustainable management of fisheries, among other things.
Source – EU Commission