The European Union elbows into the Arctic debate

Jostling over who should control which parts of the Arctic has so far mostly engaged Canada, Denmark, Norway, the U.S. and Russia—all countries with long Artic coastlines. Now the European Union is reportedly planning to stake its claim to a say in the region’s future. Among the EU’s objectives: promoting sustainable use of far North resources. But it’s not all environmentalism. When it comes to offshore oil and gas in the Arctic, Der Spiegle reports the European Commission now "sees these resources as potentially playing a role in enhancing the European Union’s energy security."

Spiegel Online