ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Arctic policy of European Union

Okay kiddo, so you know how some countries are really cold and have lots of snow and ice? That's what we call the Arctic. And did you also know that there are some very important things in the Arctic, like oil and gas and lots of fish? That's why the countries around the Arctic, including the European Union (EU), have made some rules called the Arctic policy to make sure everyone is safe and fair when they use these resources.

The EU's Arctic policy has three main goals: to protect the environment, to promote sustainable development, and to support international cooperation. Protecting the environment means making sure that people don't harm the plants, animals, and habitats in the Arctic. Promoting sustainable development means finding a way to use the resources in the Arctic so that they can last a long time and not run out quickly. And supporting international cooperation means that the EU works with other countries to make sure everyone is working together and not fighting over who gets to use the resources.

To make sure they meet these goals, the EU has some rules in place. For example, they have strict regulations on oil and gas drilling to make sure it's done safely and doesn't harm the environment. They also work with local communities and indigenous people who have lived in the Arctic for a long time to make sure their voices are heard and their rights are respected. And the EU works with other countries like Russia, Canada, and the United States to make sure everyone is following the same rules and not causing problems for each other.

So in a nutshell, the EU's Arctic policy is all about making sure everyone is safe and fair when they use the resources in the Arctic, and that they do it in a way that won't harm the environment or the people who live there.