The European Union’s potential contribution to protect marine biodiversity in the changing Arctic: a roadmap

This article provides a roadmap for possible European Union (EU) action in the protection of marine biodiversity in the changing Arctic. First the EU's competence in the Arctic is briefly introduced. Then the discussion turns to the EU's potential external and internal actions in shipping, fisheries and offshore oil and gas operations that could possibly enhance the international legal regime for the protection of marine biodiversity in the Arctic. The EU's role vis-a-vis the global biodiversity regime and cross-cutting measures under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea are discussed together in the final part.