By Dr Jessica Schechinger, Lecturer in International Law, University of Glasgow.
“They, amongst others, both emphasised the strong links between Scotland and Norway, with Angus Robertson MSP mentioning that now is a good time to review Scotland’s Arctic engagement, indicating the potential policy relevance and importance of this SCGA-funded event.“
The Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA) sponsored workshop on ‘Cooperation in the High North between Scotland, Norway, and the Arctic Council: Towards more Secure and Sustainable Oceans’ took place on 17 June 2024, focusing on future possibilities for co-operation.
Organised by Dr Jessica Schechinger, the workshop took place at the University of Edinburgh Law School and consisted of two panels and a roundtable on options for (academic) cooperation between Scotland and Norway. Panel 1 focused on protection of the marine environment, and panel 2 focused on maritime security issues.
Professor Claire McDiarmid (Head of the School of Law, University of Glasgow) and Angus Robertson MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture) provided the welcome and introductory remarks. They, amongst others, both emphasised the strong links between Scotland and Norway, with Angus Robertson MSP mentioning that now is a good time to review Scotland’s Arctic engagement, indicating the potential policy relevance and importance of this SCGA-funded event.
Panel: Marine Environment
Dr Andrea Varga (Lecturer in International Law, University of Glasgow; co-research coordinator for the Glasgow Centre for International Law and Security (GCILS)) chaired the first panel on the marine environment, which included the following five presentations:
- Professor James Harrison (Professor of Environmental Law, University of Edinburgh) presented on ‘The UK/Scottish law in relation to the marine environment’.
- Dr Joanna Dingwall (Visiting Lecturer in International Law, University of Glasgow/GCILS; lawyer to the Scottish Government) presented on ‘The legal framework for deep seabed mining’.
- Dr Maria Madalena das Neves (Associate Professor, Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS), UiT-The Arctic University of Norway) presented on ‘Norway’s framework, policy, and practice concerning seabed mining’.
- Dr Rozemarijn Roland Holst (Assistant Professor in International Environmental Law, Durham University) presented on ‘Marine geoengineering and novel climate interventions in the High North: shifting norms?’.
- Professor Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui (Professor of Law, University of Bergen) presented on ‘Offshore Wind Governance in the North Sea: 2 Scottish and Norwegian shared themes’.
During the discussion, it became clear that the seas surrounding Scotland and Norway are very busy and complicated regulatory spaces. Beyond that, there is an obvious need for transboundary and regional cooperation (and coordination) concerning the marine environment. Many challenges that arise in ensuring the protection of the marine environment were discussed.
Panel: Maritime Security
Dr James Devaney (Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Glasgow; co-research coordinator for GCILS) chaired the second panel on maritime security issues, which included the following four contributions:
- Dr Marc De Vore (Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of St Andrews) presented on ‘Defence in Scotland: the North Atlantic and the High North’.
- Dr Youri van Logchem (Associate Professor (Law of the Sea & Environmental Law), NCLOS, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway) presented on ‘The protection of critical offshore infrastructure in the High North’.
- Captain Alexis Lee (Scottish Government Marine Directorate) presented on ‘Compliance and enforcement on fisheries and environmental matters in Scotland’.
- Eve de Coning (Blue Justice Secretariat/Policy Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries) presented on ‘Blue Justice and the Copenhagen Declaration against Transnational Organised Crime in the Global Fishing Industry’.
“The protection of vulnerable critical offshore infrastructure was also considered to pose special problems in the High North. It was noted that the national strategy for maritime security is not devolved, but a reserved matter. In this context, Scotland contributes to the strategy, and there is cooperation and coordination to tackle maritime security issues.“
Following the second panel, the discussion highlighted geopolitical tensions and dynamics in the High North and the current war in Ukraine, as well as issues relating to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, ocean surveillance data, and the Blue Justice Initiative.
The protection of vulnerable critical offshore infrastructure was also considered to pose special problems in the High North. It was noted that the national strategy for maritime security is not devolved, but a reserved matter. In this context, Scotland contributes to the strategy, and there is cooperation and coordination to tackle maritime security issues.
Roundtable Discussion
Lastly, Dr Jessica Schechinger (Lecturer in International Law, University of Glasgow/GCILS; incoming postdoctoral research fellow at the NCLOS, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway) facilitated the roundtable discussion on best practices and cooperation between Scotland and Norway. The speakers emphasised some options for (academic) cooperation between Scotland and Norway and focussed in their interventions on the following:
- Craig Smith (Senior Policy Adviser – Arctic, Directorate for External Affairs, Scottish Government) presented on ‘Scotland looks north’.
- Dr Linda Solstrand Dahlberg (Senior Advisor from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Arctic Council; former science and innovation policy adviser for the UK government) presented on ‘Norway’s Arctic Council programme and priorities’.
- Prof Vito De Lucia (Professor of (International) Law; Director of the NCLOS, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway) presented on ‘Some reflections on (academic) cooperation’.
- Dr Daria Shapovalova (Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen) presented on ‘The Scotland-Arctic network and funding opportunities’.
During the roundtable discussion, current (academic) cooperation initiatives, as well as the Scotland-Arctic Network and its activities were highlighted. Further, it was nice to see academic cooperation on the student level in action, as some of the participants had studied in both countries.
In addition, Norway’s Arctic Council programme and its priorities (Norway chairs the Arctic Council from 2023-2025) were clarified, with an emphasis on the ‘oceans priority’. Several speakers emphasised the strong (historical and geographical) links between Scotland and Norway. This is supported by the 2019 Arctic Connections: Scotland’s Arctic Policy Framework (p. 5), which provides that ‘[c]onnections between Scotland and the Arctic… go much further than geographical proximity’.
Generally, the workshop aimed to facilitate cooperation and engagement between academic researchers and policy makers in Scotland and Norway that work on (selected) marine environmental and maritime security issues that are of common concern.
The event was a mix of showcasing relevant research that is being done in Scotland and Norway, provided information on current priorities, and provided an opportunity to discuss potential opportunities for cooperation between those working on certain High North issues in Scotland and Norway.
Participants at the workshop at the University of Edinburgh Law School on 17 June 2024.
This event was made possible by generous (financial) support from the SCGA through an Engagement Award, which facilitated the knowledge exchange and networking opportunity on Arctic issues between academics and policy makers. The event was attended by researchers (including early career researchers) and policy makers from Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Its success is already illustrated by that it led to building new connections and discussions on how (academic) cooperation can potentially be improved. More than 30 participants from Scotland, the UK, and Norway joined the hybrid workshop.
Additional support from the University of Glasgow School of Law, the GCILS, and the University of Edinburgh Law School (for providing the room) is gratefully acknowledged as well.
Many thanks are, of course, due to all speakers, chairs, and participants for their interest and for taking the time to join, present, and participate, whether in person or virtually. A personal thanks is also due to Sandra Dopico, Joanna Dingwall and Craig Smith for their time and support, and to Kathleen Ewing for taking notes.
The focus of this event was on the relationship between Norway and Scotland, and on researchers and policy makers that are based in those countries. It is hoped that similar events will be organised in the future, and that engagement on these matters will continue and further increase. Anyone who is involved in relevant (research) projects with an interest in potentially joining any future events on cooperation between Norway and Scotland (and/or the Arctic Council) on environmental and maritime security matters, please contact Dr Jessica Schechinger.
