Making a splash at project start at the EU Arctic Forum, Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue and Arctic Youth Dialogue, 1-3 September 2026 in Brussels

With the project start on September 1st taking place in parallel to the EU Arctic Forum, Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue and Arctic Youth Dialogue, we had the chance to present our ambition and get into contact with many of the representatives of the European Commission, Rights holders and stakeholders. Together with ICC, Saami Council, AMF, EPB, APECS, AMAP, JRC, Seascape Belgium and AWI, several Beyond Arctic PASSION partners were present and actively involved in panel discussions and meetings.

Beyond Arctic PASSION project partners attending the “EU Arctic Forum, Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue and Arctic Youth Dialogue” and celebrating the start of the project on September 1st. Photo: EU Arctic Forum photo booth/Michael Karcher

The main goals of this event are to review past results of the European Union Arctic policy, create a new strategic plan, and to update Arctic policies to match current climate and geopolitical changes. The full agenda is here.

Michael Karcher (Alfred Wegener Institute – AWI), who co-leads the Beyond Arctic PASSION project together with Jeremy Wilkinson (British Antarctic Survey – BAS), was a panellist in ‘The future of Arctic observations’ session at the event, moderated by Wiebke Pankauke, Head of Unit, DG RTD. The panel also included project partners Hajo Eicken, AWI Director and Maria Grigoratou, European Polar Board (EPB) Executive Secretary, Head of European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO). With the distribution of our first project brochure, we were able to spread the word about our plans and enlarge our network. A great start for our project!

Diego Fernàndez Prieto (ESA), Maria Grigoratou (EPB), Hajo Eicken (AWI), Renuka Badhe (EuroGOOS), Michael Karcher (AWI ) and David Hik (Polar Knowledge Canada) participating in a panel discussion about the future of Arctic observations. Moderator Wiebke Pankauke, Head of Unit, DG RTD. Photo: Almut Brunner

Diego Fernàndez Prieto, Head of the Research and Development at the European Space Agency, and Michael Karcher waving the Beyond Arctic PASSION brochure. Photo: Larissa Lorinczi

We will have our in-person kick-off meeting at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge 27-29 October 2026, and we will be present at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, 8-10 October 2026.