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The Arctic is becoming increasingly important in terms of energy, security and climate issues on a global scale. Following the coastal states of the Arctic Ocean, which have presented Arctic strategies in recent years, the European Union has started developing an Arctic policy. While more or less consistent guiding principles have been established via several papers and communications, these have been backed up with concrete instructions and practical action to a diverging and an overall rather low degree. As a non-coastal state, the European Union will have to rely on its membership in relevant international and regional organisations, instruments such as the Northern Dimension and cooperation with member and partner states, also in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on environmental issues and policies in Canada from the perspective that the U.S. can learn from the Canadian model. Discussion topics include an overlap of resources and a shared border with similar landscapes between the two countries, the development of natural resources such as oil sands in the western regions of both nations, and a coordination of access to fisheries and sustainability of fish stock in shared coastal waters. Canada's position on climate change and the commercial development of a Northwest Passage across the Arctic region are noted.