The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced during a speech in Montreal, Canada, that the Arctic is also part of the European Union. "The Arctic is also part of the European Union." She emphasized that three member states of the European Union-. Denmark, Finland and Sweden - are Arctic countries, with more than 500,000 EU citizens living in the region. Describing the Arctic as Europe's "northern neighbourhood", von der Leyen called for stronger EU-Canada cooperation on regional security, strategic resources and infrastructure amid growing geopolitical competition.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced during a speech in Montreal, Canada, that the Arctic is also part of the European Union. "The Arctic is also part of the European Union." She emphasized that three member states of the European Union-. Denmark, Finland and Sweden - are Arctic countries, with more than 500,000 EU citizens living in the region. Describing the Arctic as Europe's "northern neighbourhood", von der Leyen called for stronger EU-Canada cooperation on regional security, strategic resources and infrastructure amid growing geopolitical competition.