The EU is expected to put forward an updated EU Arctic Strategy in October 2026. The update has been prompted by the changing security situation in Europe, great power competition and climate imperatives, requiring the EU to assume a stronger role in the Arctic alongside NATO.

Participants will assess the priorities, limitations and relevance of the proposed strategy for the Arctic nations, the EU and the wider Arctic region. They will discuss what is new, what has been left out, as well as how other Arctic actors may respond to the EU’s new approach.

This event takes place within the framework of the EPC’s Northern Europe Platform, which provides a forum for analysis and debate on the developments in the Nordic, Baltic and Arctic regions. The Platform aims to inform and shape European policymaking, notably in the areas of defence and security, economy and innovation, and climate and sustainability.