The European Commission (DG MARE- Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)

DG MARE develops and carries out the Commission’s policies on maritime affairs and fisheries.

DG MARE works to:

● ensure that the ocean resources are used sustainably and that coastal community and the fishing sector have a prosperous future

● promote maritime policies and stimulate a sustainable blue economy

● promote ocean governance at the international level.

DG MARE has previously been involved in the Arctic by supporting the Commission’s work.

The High Representative and the Commission put forward their approach for a stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic. The Arctic region is of key strategic importance for the European Union, in view of climate change, raw materials as well as geostrategic influence.

The Communication responds to these geopolitical, environmental, economic, security, and social challenges and opportunities. It seeks to foster cooperation with partners on sustainable approaches to overcome them.

The EU will further strengthen its Arctic engagement with key targets:

● contribute to peaceful and constructive dialogue and international cooperation, to keep the Arctic safe and stable, by raising Arctic matters in its external contacts, intensifying regional cooperation, and monitoring and anticipating emerging security challenges.

● take strong action to tackle the ecological, social, economic, and political impact of climate change and environmental degradation. Make the Arctic more resilient, by environmental legislation, concerted action against black carbon and permafrost thaw, and by pushing for oil, coal, and gas to stay in the ground, including in Arctic regions.

● support a comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable development of the Arctic regions to the bene t of its current inhabitants and future generations, with a particular emphasis on the needs of indigenous peoples, women, and the young, and investing in future-orientated jobs, including in the blue economy.

European Parliament (AFET Committee)

Amid the growing number of both challenges and opportunities faced outside the European Union, the 71 Members of this Committee contribute to the definition of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The AFET committee oversees its implementation and monitors how the external action funds from the EU are spent around the world. Our approval is also required for international agreements signed by the EU.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs aims to ensure that democracy, the rule of law, and human rights are guaranteed in agreements between the EU and non-EU countries. We will remain a driving force behind multilateralism and the global rules-based international order, supporting openness, fairness, and the necessary reforms around the world. A strong EU external action is essential for democracy, prosperity, and security on our continent.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament has published a committee draft report on the Arctic: opportunities, concerns, and security challenges – with the rapporteur being Ms. Anna Fotyga.

The report points out that “the Arctic plays a crucial role in keeping the environmental balance of the planet” and “the importance of the Arctic for EU energy security”.

Council of the European Union (Foreign Affairs Council configuration (FAC))

Together with the European Parliament, the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU.

What does the Council do?

● negotiates and adopts EU laws, together with the European Parliament, based on proposals from the European Commission

● coordinates EU countries’ policies

● develops the EU’s foreign & security policy, based on European Council guidelines

● concludes agreements between the EU and other countries or international organisations

● adopts the annual EU budget - jointly with the European Parliament

Composition:

There are no fixed members of the EU Council. Instead, the Council meets in 10 different configurations, each corresponding to the policy area being discussed. Depending on the configuration, each country sends its minister responsible for that policy area.

The Foreign Affairs Council is responsible for the EU’s external action, which includes foreign policy, defence and security, trade, development cooperation, and humanitarian aid.

How does the Foreign Affairs Council work?

The Foreign Affairs Council is composed of foreign ministers from all EU member states. Depending on the agenda, the Council also brings together:

• defence ministers (common security and defence policy)

• development ministers (development cooperation)

• trade ministers (common commercial policy).

Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council are chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign A airs and Security Policy, currently Josep Borrell Fontelles. The High Representative is assisted by the European External Action Service (EEAS).

However, when the FAC discusses common commercial policy issues, it is presided by the representative of the EU member state holding the six-monthly rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

The Foreign Affairs Council usually meets at least once a month.

It also defines and implements the EU’s foreign and security policy, based on guidelines set by the European Council. In particular, the Council can launch EU crisis management actions, both civil and military, in pursuit of the EU’s objectives of peace and security. It can also adopt measures needed to implement the EU’s foreign and security policy, including possible sanctions.

As it is an exclusive competence of the EU, the Council adopts measures implementing the EU’s common commercial policy together with the European Parliament. This includes trade and investment relations, intellectual property rights, and foreign direct investment.

In trade policy, the Commission is responsible for negotiating and managing trade agreements involving tariff amendments, customs, and trade provisions, and protective measures. However, the Council plays a central role as it mandates the Commission to open negotiations and gives negotiating directives to the Commission.

Module I: DG MARE

DG MARE works to develop the potential of the European maritime economy and to secure a safe and stable supply of seafood, sustainable fisheries, the preservation of the marine environment, and prosperous coastal communities. Participants will come up with a set of policy recommendations, as a response to an ongoing crisis.

Starting from the new Arctic Strategy , participants must issue a 3-5 Policy Paper in which, from the standpoint of DG MARE, propose a resolution for a dispute, and adjacent policy recommendations that could serve as a framework for future disputes.

Scenario: Earlier this month, ARCTIC PROWLER (IMO: 9700263)- a U.S Fishing Vessel violated Article 3 of “The Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement” . The Vessel conducted exploratory fishing outside the Agreement Area, whilst having received authorization from the U.S. The act was the second violation this year, the first one being a violation of Article 4(5), where the U.S breached the data sharing protocol.

Now the parties to the Agreement are issuing a response to prevent such violations from happening. The EU Commission, though the delegated Directorate-General (DG MARE) must issue a response that should cover:

• How to mediate the incident
• How to enhance International Cooperation in the field of fisheries
• What policies should be adopted to achieve more sustainable and responsible fishing practices
• Projects that could raise awareness on the topic

Module II: AFET Committee

In this module, participants will be randomly allocated to a political group present in the EP and will participate in a debate, following a fixed structure. In the end, there will be a voting session.

Political Groups:

EPP S&D Renew The Greens/EFA Identity and Democracy Group European Conservatives and Reformists Group The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL The topic of the debate: How should the European Union proceed forward in the Arctic region?

Debate Structure:

Opening Statements: 5 minutes/ representative Cross-examination: 3 minutes/ political group Closing statements: 2 minutes/group

After the debate, the voting session will begin. The voting procedure is majority-based.

Module III: Council (FAC)

In the third and last module, participants will negotiate with representatives from other Institutions and will discuss the positioning of the EU at an international level. Diplomatic incident scenario:

Arctic militarisation is a phenomenon defined by increased military capabilities in the Arctic region. While Russia’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council emphasizes peaceful cooperation, the country’s military build-up in the region continues. Due to climate change and great-power rivalry, the Arctic is no longer a remote and exceptional place, but part of a complex security environment .

The Council should hold a round of negotiations, where state representatives should discuss the military build-up and how the EU should prevent further degradation of the security climate.

After each participant delivers their observations from the standpoint of their role, they will negotiate with a representative of another International Organisation. In the end, the Council should adopt its conclusions.