Arctic summit urges bigger EU role over Russia threat

Twelve European countries meeting in Finland urged the European Union on Monday to take a stronger role in the Arctic, citing Russia and growing competition in the region.

“We call for the European Union to take on a more strategic and proactive role in the European Arctic,” the leaders wrote in a joint statement after a European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland.

The statement pointed to “the significant and long-term threat Russia poses” and said Moscow's ambitions to increase its Arctic influence and its “hostility towards Europe” showed the need to strengthen EU Arctic policy.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc needed icebreakers, though it was not immediately clear whether she was proposing joint acquisition or urging member states to strengthen their own capabilities. She said climate change and opening maritime routes meant Europe needed ships able to navigate difficult Arctic conditions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested the EU could direct part of its increased defence spending towards a “European icebreaker capability”, traditionally considered a civilian capability, and other equipment important to Arctic security.

Officials at the summit included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Kallas and European Council President Antonio Costa, as well as leaders from countries including Romania and Greece. No formal decisions were due to be taken.

The meeting comes as the European Commission is expected to present a new Arctic strategy in the coming weeks. Tuomas Tikkanen, senior adviser on European affairs to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, said the summit was timely because leaders still had a chance to influence the final document.

The Arctic has drawn increased attention since the EU adopted its last regional policy in 2021. Donald Trump's repeated statements about bringing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, under US control triggered a diplomatic crisis among allies, though he later ruled out annexing it by force.

The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, according to experts, opening maritime routes and access to resources. Russia, China and the United States have increased activity there, and China and South Korea sent container ships in August to test the Northern Sea Route through Russian waters.

Von der Leyen announced a 200-million-euro package for Greenland on September 7 and said the EU wanted to be more present in Greenland and the Arctic.