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Op-ed

Published:

The EU and the Geopolitics of the Oceans

Written by

Alf Håkon Hoel
Research Director, Institute of Marine Research
Linda Solstrand Dahlberg
Seniorrådgiver, UiT

Ed.

The EU and the Geopolitics of the Oceans

Summary:

Norwegian Centre for Geopolitics: Alf Håkon Hoel (UiT) and Linda S. Dahlberg (UiT) analyse the EU's role as a geopolitical power in ocean governance. With 22 maritime member states and over five million km² of European sea areas, the EU is a significant actor at sea – though its influence varies considerably by region. While the Baltic Sea is almost entirely an EU domain, EU member states are actually a minority among the coastal states of the Mediterranean. The authors also examine ongoing initiatives such as the European Ocean Pact, the EU Arctic Policy and Horizon Europe, and discuss their implications for Norway as an EEA member and a key maritime nation in the High North.
  • Published year: 2026
  • Full version: Read here
  • Language: English
  • Journal: High North News

Themes

  • Europe
  • The Arctic
  • The Nordic countries
  • Oceans
  • The EU

Written by

Alf Håkon Hoel
Research Director, Institute of Marine Research
Linda Solstrand Dahlberg
Seniorrådgiver, UiT