Navigating Arctic Complexity: A Decade-Long Exploration Of Sámi-EU Relations In The European Arctic

Research Fellow: Eleni Kavvatha (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles)

Supervisor / Promotor: Prof. Amandine Orsini (UCLouvain – Saint-Louis Bruxelles)

Project Duration: 1 October 2025 – 30 September 2028

Funding & Support: FSR Research Project

Overview

This research project investigates the complex interactions between European Union (EU) Arctic policies and the Sámi Indigenous Peoples living across different EU Member States and Norway in the European Arctic.

Using an integrative approach grounded in sustainability theories, the project captures the interconnected environmental, economic, and social dimensions of Arctic governance. It examines how EU policies impact Sámi livelihoods, rights, and cross-border cooperation.

Methodology & Objectives

Through a mixed-methods approach—combining qualitative interviews and quantitative policy analysis—the research aims to provide key insights into:

• Policy Coherence: Assessing how EU policies align with Indigenous rights and local realities.
• Governance Complexity: Navigating multi-level decision-making in the European Arctic.
• Inclusive & Sustainable Development: Identifying opportunities for equitable cross-border cooperation and sustainability.

Discover the outputs of the project:

• Publications
• Communications
• Events

PUBLICATIONS 

2026

International peer-reviewed articles

Popovaite, Virginia ; Wood, Ella ; Kavvatha, Eleni ; Duncan, Seira ; Lauzon, Benoit ; et. al. Notes form the field: An interdisciplinary perspective on the experiences, challenges and solutions for conducting fieldwork in glacial and periglacial environments.. In: Nordia Geographical Publications, (2026) http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/311903

2025

Books 

Book chapters

Orsini, Amandine ; Kavvatha, Eleni. EU Environmental Governance Revisited: An Introduction. In: edited by Amandine Orsini, Eleni Kavvatha, EU Environmental Governance. Future and Current Challenges. 2nd edition. (Routledge Studies in Environmental Policy), 2025, Routledge, 1-12. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/305061.

Orsini, Amandine ; Kavvatha, Eleni. EU Environmental Governance Revisited: Conclusion. In: edited by Amandine Orsini, Eleni Kavvatha, EU Environmental Governance. Future and Current Challenges. 2nd edition. (Routledge Studies in Environmental Policy), 2025, Routledge, 281-286. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/305065.

Kavvatha, Eleni. Arctic Governance – An Updated Field of EU Action. In: edited by Amandine Orsini, Eleni Kavvatha, EU Environmental Governance. Future and Current Challenges. 2nd edition. (Routledge Studies in Environmental Policy), 2025, Routledge. 235-259. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/305064.

Communications

Presentations at international conferences

2025

North Calotte region

• Kavvatha, Eleni. Indigenous perspectives and EU policy: “Navigating mining, the Sámi, and Arctic futures in the context of the Green Deal. Calotte Academy Travelling Symposium (Rovaniemi, Finland; Kautokeino, Norway; Inari, Finland, du 10/11/2025 au 15/11/2025). http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/311902

Eleni Kavvatha participated at the Calotte Academy, a traveling symposium and international scientific forum in the North Calotte region of Europe, co-organized by the University of the Arctic Thematic Network on Geopolitics and Security and the Northern Policy Society. Her presentation, Indigenous perspectives and EU policy: “Navigating mining, the Sámi, and Arctic futures in the context of the Green Deal, took place in Kautokeino Norway inside the International Center for Reindeer Herding Husbandry (EALÁT) amongst Early Career Scientists and representatives of the Sámi community in the region. 

Hachioji (Japan)

Elena Kavvatha attended the 8th International Symposium on Arctic Sciences, held in Hachioji, Japan, from 28 to 31 October 2025.

She took part in the round-table discussion at the side event on non-Arctic states’ interest in the Arctic, where she had the opportunity to discuss the European Union’s approach to Arctic governance and the reasons why the EU’s interest in the region is becoming increasingly significant in the current geopolitical climate.

Colorado

• Kavvatha, Eleni. The impact of EU Policies on Sámi communities in Sápmi regions in Norway, Sweden and Finland. Arctic Science Summit Week 2025 (Boulder, Colorado, USA, du 20/03/2025 au 28/03/2025).http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/311901

Kavvatha Eleni participated in the Arctic Science summit week 2025 in Boulder (Colorado) where she presented the first case study of the research project related to Critical Raw materials extraction activities being increasingly supported by EU policies related to the Green Transition and their impact on Sámi communities. 

Norway

Kavvatha, Eleni. Navigating Arctic Complexity: A Decade-Long Exploration of Sámi-EU Relations In the European Arctic. Arctic Frontiers 2025: Beyond Borders (Tromsø, Norway, du 27/01/2025 au 30/01/2025).http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/311900

Presentation of publications at UCLouvain

• Orsini, Amandine and Eleni Kavvatha (co-editors), with authors of the book, Roundtable book presentation EU Environmental Governance: Current and Future Challenges, UCL-SLB, 20/11/25, “Semaine Transition”, UCLouvain.

• Orsini, Amandine (co-editor), with authors of the book including Eleni Kavvatha,Roundtable book presentation Dictionnaire d’écologie politique, CReSPo research seminar, UCL-SLB, 20/11/25, “Semaine Transition”, UCLouvain.

Presentations of research at UCLouvain

• Kavvvatha, Eleni. Poster Presentation : “Sámi-EU Relations In the European Arctic.” – “Semaine Transition”, UCLouvain, IRIS-L, 18/11/25, “Semaine Transition”, UCLouvain. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/311904

Events

2026

Organization of scientific workshop

• Kavvatha, Eleni; Orsini, Amandine and François Thoreau. 21st WIRE Workshop Edition: Balancing Transitions in the Arctic: Indigenous Perspectives on EU Green Policies and Europe’s Future, 01 – 02 July 2026 

Indigenous Perspectives on EU Green Policies and Europe’s Future

21st WIRE Workshop | UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium | 1–2 July 2026

The 21st WIRE Workshop, Indigenous Perspectives on EU Green Policies and Europe’s Future, brought together scholars and researchers from across Europe to examine the implications of the European Green Deal and the green transition for Indigenous peoples, with a particular focus on the Sámi in the European Arctic. The workshop provided an interdisciplinary forum for discussing Indigenous governance, environmental justice, Arctic policy, and the evolving relationship between the European Union and Indigenous communities.

Organization of scientific roundtable

• Kavvatha, Eleni; Cabrita, Teresa. EUMERGENCIES Roundtable. Greenland as a Geopolitical Emergency, 27 February 2026 

This online roundtable organized by Eleni Kavvatha and Theresa Cabrita examined how crisis and emergency narratives shape European responses to Greenland, influence EU unity and governance, and prioritize certain security concerns over others. Bringing together perspectives on EU strategic options and the geopolitics of warfare, the discussion explores Europe’s imperfect but viable approaches to an increasingly securitized Arctic landscape.

Speakers:

• Tim Haesebrouck (Ghent University),
• Eleni Kavvatha (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles),
• Enrico Gianoli from Osservatorio Artico

Moderation: Teresa M. Cabrita (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles)