Finland to host Arctic summit in Rovaniemi in September
With geopolitical upheaval pushing the Arctic higher up Europe’s security agenda, Finland will host a select group of European leaders in Rovaniemi this September to strengthen the EU’s common approach to the region.
“The Arctic region is an increasingly important part of Europe’s security environment,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in a statement on Monday.
“The European Union has direct interests in its stability, security and sustainable development. It is very valuable to be able to discuss these issues together with a comprehensive group of EU leaders.”
Leaders confirmed to attend include European Council President António Costa, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Romanian President Nicușor Dan.
The Baltic states will be represented by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb will join the leaders for a working dinner on Sept. 13.
Arctic security has become an increasingly pressing issue for Europe amidst U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated statements that he wants to take over Greenland and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
In previous years, Finland has hosted summits on the Eastern Flank in 2025, focused on security issues for countries next to or near Russia, and the North South Summit in 2024 that focused on general European security.
The European Arctic Summit will take place Sept. 13-14.
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This story is posted on the Barents Observer as part of Eye on the Arctic, a collaborative partnership between public and private circumpolar media organizations.
