The latest policy brief developed under the think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration initiative explores how evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic are reshaping the European Union’s strategic environment and influencing debates on enlargement policy.

Titled “From Nuuk to Reykjavik: The High North’s geopolitical scramble and the consequences for the EU and its enlargement policy,” the publication analyses rising strategic competition in the Arctic, the growing importance of security and defence cooperation in the North Atlantic, and the renewed discussion around Iceland’s potential EU accession trajectory. It also reflects on the broader implications of differentiated enlargement pathways for the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Authored by Ioannis Alexandris and Dimitra Koutouzi, the brief contributes to forward-looking policy dialogue on Europe’s geopolitical positioning, strategic autonomy, and the future of EU integration. The publication is produced within the think nea initiative, implemented by ELIAMEP and supported by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.