Mulling-over the Spitsbergen Treaty

A new research publication was recently released titled: 'The Spitsbergen Treaty: Multilateral Governance in the Arctic'. According to the introduction by Diana Wallis MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, the research presented "is not intended as a criticism of the Norwegian position but rather a search for more modern international structures and solutions based on what we might learn from an old but nonetheless innovative Treaty." However, during a presentation of the publication on 18 October, it was mentioned that the Svalbard Treaty needed extensive updating in order to fit the current political environment where more actors are becoming active in the region. On the other hand, Mr. Niels Engelschiøn, Norwegian Ambassador to Belgium, highlighted that, from a Norwegian perspective, there is no need to revise or update the existing treaty.