The Foreign Ministry of Poland hosted the 2025 edition of the Warsaw Format Meeting on 9 September, bringing together representatives from nearly all non-Arctic Observer States alongside representatives of the European Union and the Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council Chairship, including Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Denmark.

The Warsaw Format was first convened in 2010, during the Kingdom of Denmark’s first Chairship of the Arctic Council. Fifteen years later, it continues to serve as a venue for constructive dialogue between Observer States and the Chairship of the Arctic Council. It offers a distinct platform for candid dialogue, complementing the Council’s formal structures with a flexible and inclusive setting.

“Many thanks to Poland for hosting the Warsaw format meeting, which is making it possible to strengthen cooperation between the Observer States and the Council,” said Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, who underscored the importance of active engagement by Observer States. “This is greatly appreciated as Observers make significant contributions to the work of the Arctic Council through knowledge, partnerships and resources.”

The meeting included four thematic presentations by experts from the Arctic Council:

• Sara Olsvig, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council and Head of Delegation to the Arctic Council, delivered a keynote address on health and wellbeing of Arctic communities
• Lars Kullerud, President of the University of the Arctic (UArctic), highlighted the importance of circumpolar scientific collaboration
• Gosia Smieszek-Rice, Deputy Secretary at the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, presented the Working Group’s latest Climate Change Update, highlighting tipping points and global-regional stakes
• Benjamin Strong, Chair of the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group, highlighted the importance of coordinated emergency responses in the face of growing environmental and human risks – from wildfires to vulnerable infrastructure to medical emergencies

The Warsaw Format provided Observers with a valuable platform to engage meaningfully with these and other crucial issues, while also offering an opportunity to share their perspectives on Arctic cooperation.

Observers bring their own unique expertise to the work of the Arctic Council, and their contributions at the Working Group level were a main point of discussion at the Warsaw Format Meeting. Representatives from all six of the Arctic Council Working Groups provided updates on the status of their work and on-going projects, including opportunities for enhanced cooperation. Guiding this work is the 2025-2027 Working Groups Work Plan document, which offers an overview of the activities and projects that will be undertaken during the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship.

The Warsaw Format has become an important venue for open exchanges between Observer States and the Chairship.

“The Arctic continues to see increasing global interest, highlighting the importance of platforms that build trust, share knowledge and strengthen mutual understanding,” said Piotr Rychlik, Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland. “We remain committed to offering opportunities to achieve this, and look forward to adapting and building upon the strong foundation of the Warsaw Format Meeting in the future.”