meeting. At this time, the applications of 14 countries and
organizations, including the European Union Commission, were considered
by the Arctic Council to become observers. In what can only be described as a boost for sovereignty and democracy in the Arctic, the EU’s
application was rejected.
http://blog.heritage.org/2013/05/16/the-arctic-council-rejects-the-eu-a-boost-for-sovereignty-and-democracy/