Gender mainstreaming in the EU Arctic policy

• Authors: Verezhak Viktoriia , Łuszczuk Michał
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The article presents the analysis of the EU’s process of integrating a gender mainstreaming approach into its Arctic policy. The qualitative research includes a literature review, content analysis of the official EU documents, and interviews with EU officials, researchers and experts. The results explain the motives behind the measures taken in the context of the EU’s policy ambitions. The authors also identify the relevance of the EU gender mainstreaming in the Arctic in the context of a broader discussions on the region and its geopolitical and economic importance in the era of climate change. The research demonstrates the need for further EU Arctic policy to develop ideas and perspectives on gender equality, including more detailed action plans and intervention measures. Although the current strategy is not fully gender-responsive, it is seen as significant progress towards recognising gender perspectives and moving towards gender equality in the region.

Keywords

EN

European Union; EU; gender mainstreaming; Arctic; climate change; EU Arctic policy

• Publisher: Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Studiów Międzynarodowych, Uniwersytet Warszawski
• Journal: Przegląd Europejski
• Year: 2024
• Issue: 1(71)
• Pages: 47 - 65

Dates

published

2024

Contributors

author

Verezhak Viktoriia

• Maria Curie-Sklodowska University

author

Łuszczuk Michał

• Maria Curie-Sklodowska University

References

• ABENDROTH Anja-Kristin (2020), Gender Equality, in: Filomena Maggino (ed.), Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research, Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_1129-2
• AHRENS Petra (2018), Actors, Institutions, and the Making of EU Gender Equality Programs, Palgrave Macmillan London. DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-57060-4
• AIROLDI Adele (2008), The European Union and the Arctic. Policies and actions, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:701329/FULLTEXT01.pdf (24.06.2008).
• AIROLDI Adele (2010), The European Union and the Arctic. Main developments July 2008 – July 2010, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:702010/ FULLTEXT01.pdf (30.12.2010).
• AIROLDI Adele (2014), The European Union and the Arctic. Developments and perspectives 2010– 2014, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:771155/FULLTEXT01.pdf (12.12.2014).
• ALLWOOD Gill (2020), Gender Equality in European Union Development Policy in Times of Crisis, “Political Studies Review”, vol. 18, issue 3. DOI: 10.1177/1478929919863224
• ARCTIC COUNCIL (2002), Inari Declaration on the occasion of the Third Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council, Signed by the representatives of the Arctic Council on the 10th October in Inari, Finland.
• ARCTIC COUNCIL (2021a), Gender equality for a sustainable and prosperous Arctic, https://arctic-council.org/news/gender-equality-for-a-sustainable-and-prosperous-arctic/ (10.05.2021).
• ARCTIC COUNCIL (2021b), Reykjavik Declaration 2021 on the occasion of the Twelfth Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council, held in Reykjavik, Iceland, 20 May, 2021, https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/4e4d237c-9570-49b3-b815-c22b605e8296 (20.05.2021).
• BENNEDSEN WITT Anton, GSTIR-SVENSTRUP Martin (2019), EU Arctic Policy. An analysis of EU Involvement in the Arctic with Special Regards to Greenland, Master Thesis, Aalborg University.
• BENDL Regine, SCHMIDT Angelika (2013), Gender Mainstreaming: An Assessment of Its Conceptual Value for Gender Equality, „Gender, Work & Organization”, vol. 20, issue 4. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0432.2011.00584.x
• CHUFFART Romain, RASPOTNIK Andreas (2019), The EU and its Arctic spirit: Solving Arctic climate change from home?, “European View”, vol. 18, issue 2. DOI: 10.1177/1781685819883143
• CHUFFART Romain, RASPOTNIK Andreas; STĘPIEŃ Adam (2021), Our common arctic? A more sustainable EU-arctic nexus in light of the European green deal, “The Polar Journal”, vol. 11, issue 2. DOI: 10.1080/2154896X.2021.1978757
• COUNCIL OF EUROPE (1998), Gender Mainstreaming: Conceptual Framework, Methodology and Presentation of Good Practices, Final Report of Activities of the Group of Specialists on Mainstreaming, EG-S-MS, 98/2, Strasbourg.
• COUNCIL OF EUROPE (WWW), What is gender mainstreaming?, https://www.coe.int/en/web/genderequality/what-is-gender-mainstreaming (28.01.2024).
• COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2009), Council conclusions on Arctic issues, 2985th Foreign Affairs Council meeting Brussels, 8 December 2009. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/111814.pdf (08.12.2009).
• COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2014), Council conclusions on developing a European Union Policy towards the Arctic Region, Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 12 May 2014. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/28342/142554.pdf (12.05.2014).
• COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (2019), Council conclusions on the EU Arctic policy, Brussels, 9 December 2019 (OR. en), 14952/19, COEST 281, CFSP/PESC 942, https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-14952-2019-INIT/en/pdf (12.12.2019).
• DALY Mary (2005), Gender Mainstreaming in Theory and Practice, “Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society”, vol. 12, issue 3, Fall 2005. DOI: 10.1093/sp/jxi023
• EIGE (2014), Effectiveness of Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Gender Equality. Review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU Member States (Report), European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Luxembourg. DOI: 10.2839/16888
• EIGE (2016), What is gender mainstreaming?, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. DOI: 10.2839/76981
• EINARSSON Níels, LARSEN Joan Nymand, YOUNG Oran, NILSSON Annika E. (eds) (2004), Arctic Human Development Report 2004, Stefansson Arctic Institute, https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/f6c63158-401c-4a14-a8d2-5bc9f10710bf (30.01.2024).
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2008), Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – The European Union and the Arctic Region, COM(2008) 763 final, Brussels, 20.11.2008.
• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (2011), European Parliament resolution of 20 January 2011 on a sustainable EU policy for the High North (2009/2214(INI)), OJ C 136E, 11.05.2012.
• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (2017), European Parliament resolution of 16 March 2017 on an integrated European Union policy for the Arctic (2016/2228(INI)), OJ C 263, 25.07.2018.
• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (2021), European Parliament resolution of 7 October 2021 on the Arctic: opportunities, concerns and security challenges (2020/2112(INI)), OJ C 132, 24.03.2022.
• FREDMAN Sandra, GOLDBLATT Beth (2015), Gender Equality and Human Rights, “UN Women Discussion Papers”, 31 July 2015. DOI: 10.18356/e50499ba-en
• GUNNARSSON Åsa, SVENSSON Eva-Maria (2017), Gender equality in the Arctic and North; socio-legal and geopolitical challenges, “Nordic Journal on Law and Society”, vol. 1, no. 01-02 (2017).
• HEININEN Lassi, EVERETT Karen, PADRTOVA Barbora, REISSELL Anni (2020), Arctic Policies and Strategies – Analysis, Synthesis, and Trends, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg.
• JOINT COMMUNICATION (2012) to the European Parliament and the Council: Developing a European Union Policy towards the Arctic Region: progress since 2008 and next steps, JOIN(2012)019 final, Brussels, 26.06.2012. DOI: 10.2271/4310
• JOINT COMMUNICATION (2016) to the European Parliament and the Council: An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic, JOIN(2016) 21 final, Brussels, 27.04.2016.
• JOINT COMMUNICATION (2021) to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A stronger EU engagement for a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic, JOIN(2021) 27 final, Brussels, 20.10.2021.
• KARHUNEN Päivi, KOSONEN Riitta (2021), NDI Background Paper 3: Mapping Synergies in Regional Cooperation in the Northern Dimension Area, Northern Dimension Institute.
• KELEMEN R. Daniel, MCNAMARA Kathleen R. (2021), State-Building and the European Union: Markets, War, and Europe’s Uneven Political Development, “Comparative Political Studies”, vol. 55, issue 6. DOI: 10.1177/00104140211047393
• KOIVUROVA Timo, HOEL Alf Håkon, HUMPERT Malte, KIRCHNER Stefan, RASPOTNIK Andreas, ŚMIESZEK Małgorzata, STĘPIEŃ Adam (2021), Overview of EU actions in the Arctic and their impact, European Union, https://eprd.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/EU-Policy-Arctic-Impact-Overview-Final-Report.pdf (30.06.2021).
• LAHEY Kathleen, SVENSSON Eva-Maria, GUNNARSSON Åsa (2014), Gender Challenges & Human Capital in the Arctic, in: “Arctic Yearbook” 2014, https://arcticyearbook.com/images/yearbook/2014/Scholarly_Papers/9.Lahey.pdf (31.10.2014).
• LAVENA Cecilia, RICCUCCI Norma M. (2012), Exploring Gender Mainstreaming in the European Union, “International Journal of Public Administration”, vol. 35, issue 2. DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2011.616991
• LOMAZZI Vera, CRESPI Isabella (2019), Gender Mainstreaming and Gender Equality in Europe: Policies, Culture and Public Opinion, Bristol University Press. DOI: 10.46692/9781447317722
• LOURENÇO Luísa (2019), European Economic Area (EEA) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA), in: Ramses Wessel, Jed Odermatt (eds), Research Handbook on the European Union and International Organizations, Edward Elgar Publishing.
• MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Iceland (2019), Iceland’s Chairmanship in the Arctic Council 2019– 2021, https://www.government.is/topics/foreign-affairs/arctic-region/icelands-chairmanship-in-the-arctic-council-2019-2021/ (31.05.2019).
• MSAH, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Finland (2002), Taking Wind: Conference Report, Conference on Gender Equality and Women in the Arctic, 3–6 August 2002, Saariselkä Finland, http:// hdl.handle.net/11374/2074 (31.08.2002).
• MYRJORD Anne (2003), Governance Beyond the Union: EU Boundaries in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, „European Foreign Affairs Review”, vol. 8, issue 2 (2003). DOI: 10.54648/eerr2003015
• ODDSDÓTTIR Embla Eir, ÁGÚSTSSON Hjalti Ómar (eds) (2021), Pan-Arctic Report: Gender Equality in the Arctic – Phase 3, Project Report, April 2021, Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network, Reykjavík, https://arcticgenderequality.network/phase-3/pan-arctic-report (31.05.2021).
• ODDSDÓTTIR Embla Eir, SIGURÐSSON Atli Már, SVANDAL Sólrún (eds) (2015), Gender Equality in the Arctic: Current Realities – Future Challenges, Conference Report, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Reykjavik, https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/bitstream/handle/11374/409/ACMMCA09_Iqaluit_2015_SDWG_Gender_Equality_in_the_Arctic.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (30.09.2015).
• OJANEN Hanna (2000), The EU and Its ‚Northern Dimension’: An Actor in Search of a Policy, or a Policy in Search of an Actor?, „European Foreign Affairs Review”, vol. 5, issue 3 (2000). DOI: 10.54648/276173
• PALOSAARI Teemu, MÖLLER Frank (2004), Security and Marginality: Arctic Europe after the Double Enlargement, “Cooperation and Conflict”, vol. 39, issue 3. DOI: 10.1177/0010836704045203
• PRIOR Tahnee Lisa, SMIESZEK Malgorzata (2023), Editorial: Women of the Arctic, “Polar Record”, vol. 59, DOI: 10.1017/s0032247422000407
• RASPOTNIK Andreas, STĘPIEŃ Adam (2020), The European Union and the Arctic: A Decade into Finding Its Arcticness, in: Joachim Weber (ed.), Handbook on Geopolitics and Security in the Arctic. Frontiers in International Relations, Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-45005-2_8
• RASPOTNIK Andreas, ØSTHAGEN Andreas (2022), The European Union and Arctic Security Governance, in: Matthias Finger, Gunnar Rekvig (eds), Global Arctic, Springer, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-81253-9_22
• RAUTIO Arja, KUKARENKO Natalia, NILSSON Lena Maria, EVENGARD Birgitta (2021), Climate Change in the Arctic – The Need for a Broader Gender Perspective in Data Collection, “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health”, vol. 18, no. 2. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020628
• REES Teresa (2005), Reflections on the uneven development of gender mainstreaming in Europe, “International Feminist Journal of Politics”, vol. 7, issue 4. DOI: 10.1080/14616740500284532
• SEGNESTAM Lisa (2018), Integrating gender and social equality into sustainable development research. A guidance note, October 2018. Version 1.0, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm.
• SLOAN Lindis (ed.) (2004), Women’s Participation in Decision-making Processes in Arctic Fisheries Resource Management, Arctic Council 2002-2004, Nordfold. http://hdl.handle.net/11374/29
• SLOAN Lindis (ed.) (2006), Women and Natural Resource Management in the Rural North, Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group 2004-2006, Nordfold. http://hdl.handle.net/11374/34
• STĘPIEŃ Adam, KOIVUROVA Timo, KANKAANPÄÄ Paula (eds) (2016), The Changing Arctic and the European Union. A Book Based on the Report “Strategic Assessment of Development of the Arctic: Assessment Conducted for the European Union”, Leiden, Boston, Brill/Nijhoff.
• TEEVAN Chloe (2021), The EU’s gender action plan: principles and practice, ECDPM Briefing Note no. 139.
• UN WOMEN (2020), Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2020, UN Women and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York, https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Library/Publications/2020/Progress-on-the-Sustainable-Development-Goals-The-gender-snapshot-2020-en.pdf (17.09.2020)
• UN WOMEN (2021), Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2021, UN Women and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York, https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Library/Publications/2021/Progress-on-the-Sustainable-Development-Goals-The-gender-snapshot-2021-en.pdf (17.09.2021).
• UN WOMEN (2022), Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2022, UN Women and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York.
• WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (2022), Global Gender Gap Report 2022, Geneva.