EU-funded Arctic city cooperation expands with launch of new BRIDGE project
Towns and cities from around the Arctic took part in the launch of an EU-funded Arctic cooperation initiative that will enable more municipal leaders, Indigenous representatives and youth to work together.
The European Union has launched a new initiative gathering 21 towns and cities from across the Arctic to work together on shared priorities. BRIDGE, Building Resilient International Dialogue and Governance for Arctic Engagement, is led by the Arctic Mayors’ Forum (AMF), building on the foundations of the Arctic Regional and Urban Cooperation network (AURC).
“At a time of ever-increasing environmental and geopolitical change, cooperation among Arctic communities is more important than ever,” said Peter M. Wagner, Head of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, speaking at the EU Arctic Forum 2026 in Brussels. “We are proud to launch a new phase of EU support to Arctic cities forging connections across borders, building local capacity, and delivering tangible benefits for their residents.”
“A safe, resilient and inclusive Arctic isn't a side interest for the EU, it's a shared project,” said Patti Bruns, AMF Secretary General. “I’m excited about our work over the next four years, bringing together communities from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland to strengthen cooperation between local governments who face increasing challenges – and opportunities.”
More cities cooperating in a permanent structure
BRIDGE integrates AURC’s approaches and methods into AMF’s permanent structure, extending the cooperation to more Arctic mayors and urban practitioners.
Despite variations in size and governance structures, Arctic communities share a surprising range of challenges. Building on AURC achievements, these cities are now identifying common themes for the next four years of peer learning, exchanges, study visits, and collaborative problem-solving.
Anne Rännäli-Kontturi, Head of International Affairs at the City of Oulu, and Jarmo J. Husso, Chair of the City Board of Oulu, participated in the EU Arctic Forum 2026 in Brussels, where the European Commission launched the new BRIDGE initiative to strengthen cooperation among Arctic towns and cities.
Source: News release published by the European Commission on the launch of the new EU-funded BRIDGE project as part of cooperation among Arctic towns and cities.