Bodø Business Forum supports a revision of the EU Arctic policy, and strongly encourages the EU to set strengthening local businesses as a top priority in the new policy.
Introduction
Bodø Business Forum is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the call for evidence regarding the revision of the EU Arctic Policy. Bodø Business Forum is an independent member organisation consisting of 650 member companies in the Bodø region, situated north of the Arctic circle in Nordland county, Norway. Our response is on behalf of our members.
Political Context, Problem Definition and Subsidiarity
Changing geopolitical and geo-economic context
Since the 2021 Joint Communication, the Arctic has undergone profound changes:
- Russia’s war against Ukraine and the closure of eastern borders have disrupted regional cooperation and logistics patterns across the European Arctic.
- NATO enlargement has increased the strategic importance of Northern Norway as a corridor for allied mobility, supply chains and situational awareness in the High North.
- The sustainability transition and industrial transformation in Europe are increasing demand for Arctic energy, minerals, research capacity and industrial development.
- Hybrid threats, cyber risks and infrastructure vulnerability have become key security concerns in sparsely populated regions with long distances and limited redundancy.
Bodø Business Forum therefore strongly welcomes the Commission’s initiative to revise the EU Arctic Strategy to reflect these developments. We strongly urge the Commission to consider the importance of local businesses’ role in solving the issues currently faced in the Arctic.
Relevance of the 2021 priorities
The three priorities of the 2021 EU Arctic Strategy remain valid:
- A peaceful Arctic
- A sustainable Arctic
- A prosperous Arctic
However, stakeholders in Bodø Business Forum emphasise that the updated policy should:
- Make security, preparedness and resilience more explicit policy priorities.
- Recognise the European Arctic as a distinct geopolitical and economic space where EU interests are directly engaged.
- Strengthen the role of knowledge institutions, especially in regard to innovation and securing competent workforce in the North.
Objectives of the Initiative and How to Achieve Them
- A Peaceful and Secure Arctic
Bodø Business Forum supports a stronger EU role in:
- Civil preparedness and societal security
- Protection of critical infrastructure
- Situational awareness and hybrid threat resilience
- Civil–military cooperation and dual-use infrastructure
- Inclusion of local businesses in security plans
Security in the Arctic should be understood broadly and include:
- Transport and logistics infrastructure
- Energy security and supply chains
- Food security
- Digital resilience and satellite services
- Emergency response capacity
The EU should:
- Integrate Arctic policy with Defence Mobility, TEN-T and Civil Protection mechanisms.
- Strengthen cooperation with NATO and non-EU Arctic partners such as Norway, Iceland and the UK.
- Ensure that local businesses, which often provide critical operational capacity in logistics, infrastructure, energy systems and emergency response, are integrated in security and preparedness structures.
Robust Arctic communities and infrastructure contribute directly to European security and strategic autonomy.
- A Sustainable Arctic
Bodø Business Forum supports EU ambitions related to:
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable ocean economy
- Critical raw materials
At the same time, policy must:
- Ensure a knowledge-based sustainability transition that recognises regional realities.
- Support communities undergoing structural change.
- Enable sustainable resource development under strong ESG standards.
Energy security
The European Arctic plays a significant role in Europe’s energy system. Norway currently supplies roughly one third of EU natural gas demand, and a growing share of this production comes from Arctic waters. In 2025, 34% of Norwegian gas exports to Europe originated from the Norwegian and Barents Seas, a share expected to increase further in the coming years.
This production contributes directly to European energy security and stability, and the revised EU Arctic policy should recognise the strategic importance of energy activities in the European Arctic while supporting long-term sustainability and technological innovation.
Arctic as a laboratory for sustainability solutions
The Arctic can serve as:
- A testbed for technologies operating under extreme conditions
- A source of knowledge and solutions for European decarbonisation, including CCUS, renewable energy and sustainable ocean industries.
Universities and research institutions in the region play a key role in generating knowledge on climate, ecosystems and sustainable development.
- A Prosperous and Resilient Arctic
Infrastructure and connectivity
EU policy should prioritise investments in:
- Reliable, cross-border infrastructure
- East–west transport corridors across the European Arctic
- Digital infrastructure and broadband connectivity
- Ports, airports and rail links
- Space infrastructure and satellite services
These capacities are crucial in strengthening the conditions for businesses in the region, which in turn is central improving the attractiveness and security in the Arctic. Reliable infrastructure is essential for enabling local businesses to operate, grow and contribute to European supply chains. It is essential that transport infrastructure is seen as a regional, cross border issue, rather than just national. Ensuring reliable infrastructure in the Arctic should be one of the top priorities for the EU in the coming years. Dual-use infrastructure supporting both civilian and security needs should be a core EU instrument in Arctic regions.
Space infrastructure and launch capability
Northern Norway hosts one of Europe’s first operational spaceport for satellite launches on mainland Europe at Andøya. Developing this environment strengthens Europe’s autonomous access to space and supports satellite services for communication, monitoring, security and climate observation. Strengthening Arctic space infrastructure should therefore be a strategic priority for the EU.
Innovation, research and competence
Bodø Business Forum recommends:
- Establishing a dedicated Arctic research programme in FP10
- Strengthening links between research, innovation and industrial policy
- Recognising universities as strategic infrastructure for monitoring, knowledge production and regional development
- Ensuring that local businesses have access to a workforce with relevant knowledge.
- Aiming EU funding at strengthening local businesses
Long-term funding for Arctic observation systems and research infrastructure is essential for understanding climate change, ecosystems and security developments.
Cohesion and territorial instruments
Bodø Business Forum strongly recommends:
- Maintaining the NSPA allocation in EU cohesion policy.
- Tailoring state-aid and funding tools to Arctic conditions, including multiannual operational support for public-interest non-profit organisations in Arctic and NSPA regions.
Sparsely populated Arctic regions depend on stable intermediary organisations that deliver competence, preparedness and innovation support. When funding is limited to short project cycles, institutional capacity weakens over time. Targeted operational support would strengthen delivery capacity and reduce administrative barriers.
Regional economic ecosystems
A prosperous Arctic depends on strong regional industries and value chains.
Key sectors include:
- Seafood and aquaculture
- Maritime logistics and coastal shipping
- Ocean industries and emerging blue economy activities
- Energy and industrial competence clusters
These industries are fundamental for employment, innovation and settlement in northern communities. Local small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of these ecosystems and are essential for innovation, value creation and resilient supply chains in the Arctic. EU regulations, trade policies and sustainability standards therefore have direct impacts on everyday economic life in the European Arctic.
Demography, youth and communities
Arctic policy must address demographic challenges by supporting:
- Recruitment and skills development
- Youth participation and mobility
- Housing and settlement in Arctic towns
Resilience in the Arctic depends as much on people and communities as on infrastructure.
Cross-border cooperation
The EU should:
- Strengthen Interreg and Arctic cooperation platforms
- Support labour mobility and educational cooperation
- Promote joint planning of infrastructure and preparedness
- Use EU funding instruments to enhance coordination among NSPA regions.
Integration and cooperation across borders are among Europe’s strongest assets in addressing Arctic challenges.
New Areas for EU Arctic Policy
Bodø Business Forum recommends developing EU policy further in:
- Societal security and civil preparedness
- Energy security and resilient supply chains
- Food security and sustainable ocean production
- Housing and settlement in Arctic towns
- Strengthening local businesses
Better Regulation – Consultation and Stakeholder Involvement
Bodø Business Forum welcomes the consultation process and recommends:
- Systematic consultation with regional governments and Arctic communities
- Use of existing Arctic platforms such as NSPA, AURC and the Arctic Mayors’ Forum
- Continued dialogue with universities and research institutions
- Targeted outreach to business associations
Core Messages from Bodø Business Forum
Bodø Business Forum recommends that the revised EU Arctic Policy should:
- Recognise that Arctic security is European security.
- Recognising the important role of local businesses in Arctic communities.
- Strengthen investment in infrastructure, connectivity and preparedness.
- Acknowledge the role of the European Arctic in Europe’s energy security.
- Strengthen research, innovation and knowledge institutions.
- Promote a knowledge-based sustainability transition in Arctic economies.
- Support resilient communities, youth participation and demographic stability.
- Treat the European Arctic as a distinct policy space within EU Arctic policy.
Conclusion
The European Arctic is becoming increasingly important for Europe’s security, energy supply and sustainable economic development. Strong Arctic communities and resilient infrastructure are essential to meet these challenges. Bodø Business Forum therefore encourages the European Commission to ensure that the revised EU Arctic Policy strengthens framework conditions for local businesses and recognises the European Arctic as a strategic region for Europe’s future.
Merete Nordheim
CEO, Bodø Business Forum
