Icebreakers and cables in new Arctic strategy

More icebreakers and an undersea cable to Greenland are included as the European Commission sets out a new strategy for the Arctic.

´The Arctic is a place where geopolitical tectonic plates collide,´ stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a brief press conference on the plan on Tuesday.

The strategy focuses on both enhanced security and improved climate and living conditions in the region. Specifically, it mentions, amongst other things, more icebreakers and an undersea cable to Greenland.

At the same time, it is stated that the EU remains firm in its opposition to the extraction of fossil fuels in the Arctic, whether gas, oil or coal. However, the official line does not prevent individual EU countries from continuing to trade, for example, with the Norwegian parts of the Arctic.