EU's Arctic policy is not 'convenience' but necessity

As recently as a decade ago, the Arctic was of little interest to people south of the Arctic Circle.

This has changed rapidly. Today, the European Union – together with the United States, Canada, Norway and Iceland – recognises that a safe, sustainable, peaceful and prosperous Arctic is important not just for the region itself but also for the entire world.

The reason for the increased attention is that the Arctic is becoming a new stage for some of the most defining issues of ou...