On  20 October 2026, the European Commission published the Joint Communication “Europe’s Northern Neighbourhood: A New Strategy for the Arctic”, addressed to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The Communication sets out the EU’s strategic priorities for the Arctic underlining the importance of polar research and states that polar science depends on sustained funding for shared research infrastructures, coordinated and equitable access, and a long-term Arctic observing system.

POLARIN is explicitly featured highlighted as a Horizon Europe-funded initiative bringing together research institutions from EU Member States and international partners to share research stations, research vessels, icebreakers, observatories and data infrastructure.

The Strategy also confirms the EU’s commitment to maintaining its leadership in Arctic science and announces the development of an EU Polar Research Hub, building on a reinforced European Polar Coordination Office, to strengthen coordination between research, observation and policy and improve access to polar research and infrastructure.