Michael Mann

Michael Mann has been EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic since April 1.Prior to that, he spent two and a half years as the EU’s Ambassador to Iceland. Between 2011 and 2017, he was head of Strategic Communications at the European External Action Service, doubling up as Chief Spokesperson to High Representative/Vice President Catherine Ashton from 2011 to 2014. Mr. Mann worked as a European Commission Spokesperson between 2002 and 2011, covering a wide range of portfolios. He began his career in Brussels as a journalist, working for the Financial Times, Reuters and Bloomberg News, among other media.

Rachael Lorna Johnstone

Rachael Lorna Johnstone is Professor of law at the University of Akureyri and at Ilisimatusarfik (the University of Greenland). Professor Johnstone specialises in Polar law: the governance of the Arctic and the Antarctic under international and domestic law. She has published widely on the rights of indigenous peoples; international human rights law; governance of extractive industries in the Arctic; international environmental law; due diligence; state responsibility; and Arctic strategies. She runs the Polar Law Masters Programmes at the University of Akureyri. 

Q&A

All questions directed to Ambassador Mann were posted by participants, either before or during the event.

EU's Current Arctic Policy

Reading Material

European Comission: EU opens Consultation on the Future Approach on Arctic Policy

High North News: Meet the EU's Man in the Arctic: "We must think differently about our resources"

EURACTIVE: EU's New Arctic Policy still Work in Progress, ambassador admits

CEPS: Can the EU's Arctic Policy find True North?

The Arctic Institute: The EU's Arctic Policy: Between Vision and Reality

Videos

EU Ambassador Marie-Anne Coninsx on why the Arctic is of great importance to the EU

Ambassador Jari Vilen on EU's Position on the Arctic at the 2019 Arctic Circle Assembly:

French Senator Jean Bizet on the EU heading towards a New Arctic Strategy, at the 2019 Arctic Circle Assembly:

EU Ambassador Marie-Anne Coninsx on why the EU needs to update it's Arctic Strategy, at the 2019 Arctic Circle Assembly: