EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue14-15 May 2024
Brussels, Belgium, Charlemagne building (meeting room De Gasperi), 170 Rue de la Loi
EU Arctic Forum – 14 May
Master of ceremony: Raphaël Goulet, Head of the Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea, Arctic
Policy Unit, European Commission
08:00-08:30

Registration and welcome coffee

08:30-09:00

Welcome and opening
Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, EuropeanCommission
Belén Martinez Carbonell, Acting Deputy Secretary General for Economic and GlobalIssues, European External Action Service

09:00-10:40

The EU in the Arctic: an expanded outlook
International cooperation in the Arctic is more important than ever. The increasing interestin the region by non-Arctic states is illustrated by numerous actions and dedicated policies.
However, Europe has a long history of engagement in and with the Arctic. In this panel,high-level representatives from Arctic and non-Arctic EU Member States will present theirviews and discuss possibilities for enhancing international cooperation in the Arctic, from aEuropean perspective.
Facilitator: Kestutis Sadauskas, Deputy Director General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,
European Commission
Speakers:••••••••

10:40-11:10

Tobias Elling Rehfeld, Ambassador, Senior Arctic Official, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Denmark
Petteri Vuorimaki, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Senior Arctic Official, Ministryof Foreign Affairs of FinlandLouise Calais, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ofSweden
Franziska Hagedorn, Head of Division for Arctic Policy, Norway, Iceland,
Switzerland, Liechtenstein and UK, Foreign Office of Germany
Carmine Robustelli, Special Envoy for the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs andInternational Cooperation of Italy
René van Hell, Arctic Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Piotr Rakowski, Senior Advisor for Arctic Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ofPoland
Carlos Lopez Ortiz, Deputy Director General for Multilateral Economic Affairs,
Senior Arctic Official, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain

Coffee Break11:10-12:15

Thriving Arctic ecosystems
Climate change is the most comprehensive and existential threat the Arctic faces, and it hasreached an unprecedented crisis point. The dire consequences, exacerbated by environmentaldegradation, extend to the whole planet, and profoundly affect nature and people in multipleways, some of which are only just becoming apparent. This panel examines ways toovercome these challenges, with a focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation as well
as solutions for the sustainable use of land and marine resources.
Moderator: Vassilis Dokalis, International Relations Officer, European Commission
Speakers:•••••

Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General for Environment, European Commission
Kirsti Mijnhijmer, Head of Secretariat, Interreg Northern Periphery and ArcticProgrammeBirgitta Larsson, Mayor of Gällivare, Sweden
Rolf Rodven, Executive Secretary, Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme,
Arctic Council
Olavur Gregersen, CEO, Ocean Rainforest

12:15-13:45

Standing Lunch

13:45-15:00

The way forward for Arctic entrepreneurship and sustainability
Arctic development is driven by both local economic forces and initiatives as well as
increasing global demand for products from Arctic sources. It is also fostered by local andregional political support and enabled by opening opportunities. At the same time, economic
development in the Arctic is sometimes limited by lack of infrastructure and skilled workers.
In this panel, Arctic entrepreneurs and local decisionmakers discuss how they navigate thosechallenges, and how economic development in the Arctic can be made both sustainable andinclusive, maximising the benefits of the green and digital transitions, enhancing circularity,
promoting innovation and attractiveness, fostering prosperity and well-being, and taking into
account the interests of those living in the Arctic.
Moderator: Clara Ganslandt, EU Special Envoy for Arctic matters, European External ActionServiceSpeakers:•••••Moray Gilland, Head of Unit, Macro-regions, Transnational/Interregional/ExternalCooperation and Enlargement, European Commission
Jillian Verbeurgt, Co-founder and Chief Technology and Product Officer,GreenBytes
Carina Sammeli, Mayor of Lulea, Sweden
Katarina Sætersdal, Senior Advisor, Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise
Hanna Moen Reinsnes, Chief Executive Officer, Gobmi

15:00-15:30

Coffee Break

15:30-16:30

Emergency Management in the Arctic
Increasing interest in Arctic resources, infrastructure, transport, and tourism requires
enhanced safety and security systems. However, as human activities in the region increase,hazards linked to climate change such as wildfires, floods or extreme weather also increase.
This increases risks for people and the environment. Hence, civil protection, emergency
preparedness and response or maritime search and rescue operations are becoming more
relevant in the Arctic context. This panel focuses on how emergency response capacities canbe strengthened and what is the EU’s role in this process.

Moderator: Miguel Roncero, International Relations Officer (EU Arctic policy), EuropeanCommission
Speakers:•••••

16:30-17:30

Spyros Afentoulidis, Team Leader, Contingency Planning, Analysis and Situational
Awareness, European Commission
Ole Kristian Bjerkemo, Chair, Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response
Working Group, Arctic Council
Elle Merete Omma, Head of EU Unit, Advisor, Saami Council
Kerry Thistle, Director, Economic Development & Strategy for the City ofYellowknife, Canada
Christina Corbane, Deputy Head of Unit of the Disaster Risk Management Unit,
Leader of the Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre, European Commission

Research in and for the Arctic
International scientific and technological cooperation is essential for the Arctic to understandand cope with the changes the region undergoes, and for the rest of the world to understandclimate change and the interconnected Earth systems. This panel examines the EU’s support
to science, research and innovation activities in and for the Arctic, the ways to further
strengthen them, and to make EU research more participatory, including active engagementwith local and indigenous communities.
Moderator: Clara Ganslandt, EU Special Envoy for Arctic matters, European External Action
ServiceSpeakers:•••••

17:30-17:45

Elisabetta Balzi, Head of Unit, Ocean, Seas and Waters, European Commission
Nicole Biebow, EPB Chair, AWI-EU PolarNet
Lina Madaj, Vice-President, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists
Aslak Holmberg, President, Saami Council
Ari Alatossava, Mayor of Oulu, Finland

Conclusions
Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European
Commission

18:00-20:00

Standing light reception

Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue – 15 May
Master of ceremony: Raphaël Goulet, Head of the Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea, Arctic
Policy Unit, European Commission
08:00-08:30

Registration and welcome coffee

08:30-09:00

Keynote addresses
Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, President of the Sámi Parliament in Finland, President of the Sámi
Parliamentary Council
Inuuteq Holm Olsen, Head of Mission and Minister Counsellor, Greenland Representation tothe European Union

09:00-10:15

Diverse, Just and Inclusive Arctic Societies
People are the key to sustainable development and resilient societies. The Arctic is rich anddiverse in terms of ethnicities, cultures, identities, governance, demographics, migration
patterns and social realities. This panel focuses on inclusiveness as a process and a goal tocreate safe and resilient societies as well as to attract and retain newcomers.
Moderator: Corine Wood-Donnelly, Associate Professor of International Relations & theHigh North, Nord UniversitySpeakers:••••Clara Ganslandt, EU Special Envoy for Arctic matters, European External Action
ServiceBrynjar Andersen Saus, Project Manager, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Lásse Valkeapää, Saami Council
Louis Papis Chemnitz, Overseas Countries and Territories Youth Network, Inuit
Circumpolar Council

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-11:45

Resources in the Arctic
Climate change and its impacts remain the largest threat to the Arctic and the world. Climatechange also negatively feeds into environmental challenges such as resource depletion,pollution, and biodiversity loss. This panel examines these challenges, with a focus onsustainable energy production and resource use through the lens of Indigenous peoples’
voices and experiences.
Moderator: Anu Fredrikson, Executive Director, Arctic Frontiers
Speakers:•••••

Joaquim Nunes de Almeida, Director, Mobility & Energy intensive industries,
European Commission
Eirik Larsen, Head of the Human Rights Unit, Saami Council
Hjalmar Dahl, Vice-Chair, Inuit Circumpolar Council International, President, Inuit
Circumpolar Council Greenland
Asisaun Toovak, Mayor of Utqiagvik, United States
Mikael Janson, Director, North Sweden European Office11:45-13:00

Weaving indigenous and traditional knowledge into international processes
Engaging with people living in the Arctic is key to building sustainable and resilient
cooperation with international partners. This panel discusses how Indigenous peoples havecontributed to the international scene by sharing their experiences and traditional knowledge,
and how traditional knowledge can support international processes.
Moderator: Patti Bruns, Secretary-General, Arctic Mayors’ Forum
Speakers:•••••

13:00-13:10

Elle Merete Omma, Head of EU Unit, Saami Council
Vicki Lee Wallgren, Director, WWF Global Arctic ProgrammeMichael Karcher, Senior Scientist and Arctic PASSION Coordinator, AlfredWegener-Institut
Nikoosh Carlo, Commissioner, US Arctic Research Commission
Asisaun Toovak, Mayor of Utqiaġvik, United States

Conclusions
Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, EuropeanCommission

13:10-14:30

Standing Lunch

EU-Arctic Youth Dialogues* – 15 May
Master of ceremony: Raphaël Goulet, Head of the Ocean Governance, Law of the Sea, Arctic
Policy Unit, European CommissionThe EU-Arctic Youth Dialogues have been envisioned and implemented with Arctic and European youth as co-creators,
with notable involvement of Arctic Indigenous youth. Panellists representing the youth are chosen by their peers inworkshops taking place during the days leading to the EU-Arctic Youth Dialogues.

14:30-15:00

Keynote addresses
Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament

15:00-15:30

The first EU Arctic Youth Dialogue from a youth perspective: Impressions,outcomes and policy recommendations
Youth and project partners present the objectives of the Youth Together for Arctic Futures
project, share impressions from activities leading to the session, and deliver youth
recommendations for EU Arctic policy based on participatory workshops and an interactive
session with EU policy makers.
Facilitator: Naja-Theresia Hoegh, EU Special Advisor on Youth to European Commissioner
Urpilainen (Greenland)••••

15:30-16:10

Maiyuraq Nanouk Jones, Student in Environmental Science, Board of Directors for
Arctic Youth Network, Arctic Youth Dialogue 2024 representative (US)Francesca Bray, Programme Manager Arctic Resilient Communities Fellowship,
Lunenburg Nova Scotia, Arctic Youth Dialogue 2024 representative (Canada)
MikaJosefin Jonsson Gehrke, Student in Political Science, South Sámi, WWF
Sweden Youth, Arctic Youth Dialogue 2024 representative (Sweden)
Justin Langan, Métis Student and Activist, Arctic Youth Dialogue 2024
representative (Canada)

Youth engagement in action
Youth and policymakers from the Arctic and EU share their experience in co-decision making
processes in a storytelling format.
Facilitator: Ronja Wedegärtner, WWF Global Arctic Programme
Panel composition:••••

16:10-16:40

Zoe Okleasik, Iñupiaq youth, Alaska, Arctic Youth Ambassadors 2023-2024 (US)Asisaun Toovak, Mayor of Utqiaġvik (US)Julius Mihkkal Eriksen Lindi, Project Advisor Arctic and Environmental Unit
Saami Council (Norway)
Vilde Furuhaug Westby, President of European Youth Parliament Norway(Norway)

Thematic coffee break
Policymakers and youth engage in conversations around the theme The power of youth?! Youth involvement and youth co-decision making in the Arctic and Europe, exchanging
views, sharing experiences and developing new ideas.

16:40-17:40

Including youth recommendations in policymaking
A dialogue between policymakers and youth looking into how youth recommendations
already are and can be further included into relevant processes, sharing experiences anddiscussing possible ways forward. The session is divided into two heats.

Facilitator: Brynjar Andersen Saus, Project Manager, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Panel composition:
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17:40-18:00

Clara Ganslandt, EU Special Envoy for Arctic matters, EEAS
Erkki Parkkinen, Mayor of Salla (Finland)
Herb Nakimayak, Executive Council Member, Inuit Circumpolar Council
Simone Weichenrieder, APECS Delegation to COP29, Arctic Youth Dialogue
representative (Germany)
Tiana Lemon, Tr'ondek Hwech'in Youth Council, Dawson City, Yukon, Arctic
Youth Dialogue representative (Canada)
Nico Janis, European Youth Parliament, Arctic Youth Dialogue representative(Austria)
Juhán Nikolaus Wuolab Wollberg, Deputy Member of NOEREH, Arctic YouthDialogue representative (Sweden & Norway)
Anders Peter Hansen, President of Nordic Youth Council, Arctic Youth Dialogue
representative (Denmark)Priscilla Frankson, Arctic Youth Network board of Directors, Arctic YouthDialogue representative (US)Conclusion: Dialogue with the youth - how can the EU ensure that youth
recommendations developed during Arctic Youth Dialogues impact policies?
Peter Wagner, Head of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, EuropeanCommission
Edna Lyberth, Student in Engineering in Fisheries Technology, Arctic Youth Dialogue
representative (Greenland)
Clyde Dedej, Klajdi Dedej, Chair of the Barents Regional Youth Council, Umeå, Arctic
Youth Dialogue representative (Sweden)

18:00

Standing light reception*The EU-Arctic Youth Dialogues are held back-to-back to the EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue.
The EU-Arctic Youth Dialogues is funded by the European Union as part of a large initiative, and organized anddelivered by a consortium led by the WWF Global Arctic Programme (WWF Sweden), in cooperation with the Arctic
Youth Network, the European Youth Parliament (Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa) and its Norway Alumni
Association, the Saami Council, Arctic Mayors’ Forum, Tromsø commune, the University of Tromsø, and theAssociation of Polar Early Career Scientists.