Northern Europe and the Arctic Agenda: Roles of Nordic and Other Sub-Regional Organizations

Abstract Aside from the Arctic Council itself, a number of inter-governmental neighbourhood groupings – here defined as ‘sub-regional’ – have mandates covering at least part of the European High North. This paper asks how far the issues on the emerging Arctic agenda are addressed, in practical and/o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Yearbook of Polar Law Online
Main Authors: Bailes, Alyson J.K., Ólafsson, Kristmundur Th.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Brill 2013
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22116427-91000118
https://brill.com/view/journals/yplo/5/1/article-p45_3.xml
https://data.brill.com/files/journals/22116427_005_01_S03_text.pdf
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Summary:Abstract Aside from the Arctic Council itself, a number of inter-governmental neighbourhood groupings – here defined as ‘sub-regional’ – have mandates covering at least part of the European High North. This paper asks how far the issues on the emerging Arctic agenda are addressed, in practical and/or policy terms, by such multilateral entities as the Nordic Council, Nordic Council of Ministers, Barents Euro-Arctic Council, Northern Dimension of the European Union, and Council of Baltic Sea States. Do these groups play conscious and helpful roles in tackling specific Arctic challenges, supporting a cooperative approach, and/or building joint Arctic policy platforms for their members? If not, do the explanations lie in the nature and limited competences of ‘sub-regional’ governance; in a lack of coordination, divisions and discrepancies between the bodies in question; or in an absence of political will? The need and scope for improvements are finally addressed against the wider political and institutional backdrop of the Arctic.