European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton will begin a tour of the Arctic region on Tuesday for high level talks with leaders of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
She will reaffirm the EU's interest in the Arctic region and discuss the bloc's application for permanent observer status in the Arctic Council, the European Council said in a statement on Monday.
Ashton said the "EU already makes a valuable financial and political contribution to Arctic cooperation through research and working with our neighbors on transport, energy, maritime safety and environmental issues. We want to do all we can to contribute to productive cooperation in the region."
On Tuesday, she will meet Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Development Minister Heidi Hautala. Ashton will also meet with the President of the Sámi Parliament, Klemetti Näkkäläjärvi. She will address a seminar at the Arctic Center of the University of Lapland.
On Wednesday, Ashton will visit the LKAB mine in Kiruna, Sweden, together with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. She will also visit the Esrange Satellite Station. From there, she will fly to Svalbard in Norway to visit the University Center together with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Störe.
On Thursday, Ashton will visit the Kongsvegen glacier and weather station. She will be the keynote speaker at the annual national conference on Europe in Oslo.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Political News
December 26, 2025 08:42 ET Third quarter economic growth data from some major economies including the U.S. were the main news in this holiday shortened week. GDP growth and industrial production data from the U.S. helped to boost morale, while the consumer confidence survey results were less upbeat. In Europe, the quarterly economic growth data from the U.K. drew attention, while the minutes of the Australian central bank’s latest policy session was in focus in Asia.