Belgium is preparing to become an observer of the Arctic Council, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said during a visit to Iceland with his Benelux counterparts.
The intergovernmental forum comprises eight countries with territory in the Arctic: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US. Belgium is finalising the administrative and diplomatic process to join as an observer state.
Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and Japan are among the existing observers. They do not have voting rights but are invited to participate in working groups on issues such as climate and pollution monitoring, protection of the marine environment, biodiversity, emergencies and sustainable development.
What happens in the North Atlantic has a direct impact on European security
“Climate change is transforming this region. People here are the first to feel its effects, but the consequences affect us all,” says Prévot, of Les Engagés. “The same applies to our economy and security. Our ports depend on safe maritime routes. Europe needs secure energy and data connections and reliable access to critical raw materials. And what happens in the North Atlantic has a direct impact on European security.”
Topics on the agenda during Prévot’s visit to Norway and Iceland this week include energy, hybrid threats, defence, European strategic autonomy and relations with two of the EU’s closest partners.
Europe “has a great deal to learn from Iceland”, he said, and Belgium contributes through polar research, maritime expertise and technology. “We share fundamental interests: ensuring that international law and international cooperation remain central to the Arctic, now that its strategic importance is growing.”
He added that Iceland remained part of the European family, even though the country voted against resuming accession negotiations with the EU at the end of August.
“We respect that choice and we will continue to reach out a hand,” he said. “For us, the solution lies in investing further in our partnership: listening to sensitivities, explaining more clearly what we are doing together and demonstrating that our cooperation can deliver results.”