Arctic policy of the European Union in 1973 and Sweden and Finland in 1995). The European Union's application to become a “permanent observer” in the Arctic Council was blocked in 2009 by Canada in response to the European Union's ban on the importation of seal products. The Arctic is an area of growing strategic importance. The European Union supports the successful Arctic co-operation and in helping to meet the challenges that now confront the region. The European Union is the world's strongest proponent of greater international efforts to fight climate change. It has three (and if the accession of Iceland to the European Union occurs, potentially
Arctic Norway the coast of Greenland. It has an area of 373 km. The population is 18, which is the staff of the weather station. Arctic Norway Arctic Norway () comprises the northernmost parts of Norway that lie above the Arctic circle. Norway, being one of the most stretched-out countries in the world, reaches from approximately 58°N to 81°N, so large parts lie north of the Arctic circle at 66°33′. Arctic Norway consists of four geographically separated parts: The Arctic circle crosses mainland Norway at Saltfjellet, which separates Helgeland from the northern part of Nordland county. Thus about half of the county