Brussels, 06/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, will be in Finland, Norway and Sweden on 6-8 March to discuss an enhanced EU policy for the Arctic with those countries' leaders. The Commission explained that the changes observed in the Arctic present a strategic, economic and environmental interest that is now still more important for the EU than at the time when it published its communication on the region in 2008. Ashton's visit will contribute to the preparation of a follow-up document that should be adopted this spring. She will reiterate the interest that the Arctic holds for Europe and will return to the EU's request to obtain permanent observer status at the Arctic Council. “The EU already makes a valuable financial and political contribution to Arctic cooperation through research and working with our neighbours on transport, energy, maritime safety and environmental issues. In developing our EU policy towards the Arctic, we want to listen to and learn from those who know the region best. I am convinced the EU can play an even more positive role in the future. We want to do all we can to contribute to productive cooperation in the region”, Ashton said before her visit. (CG/transl.jl)