Press Release: Catherine Ashton to visit northern Finland, Sweden and Norway to highlight importance of an enhanced EU policy towards the Arctic

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, traveled to the Arctic region for high level talks with leaders from Finland, Sweden and Norway.

Developments in the Arctic are of even more strategic, economic and environmental interest for the European Union now than when the first Communication on the region was issued in 2008. The High Representative's visit will feed in to preparation of a follow-up document, due to be adopted this spring. She will reaffirm the EU's interest in the Arctic region and discuss the EU's application for permanent observer status in the Arctic Council.

ESO: Background information: The Arctic at a time of change http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-the-arctic-at-a-time-of-change/

---