Unparalleled changing environmental conditions and associated economic opportunities in the Arctic have led to increased interest in the region. The SNP led Scottish Government has shown increasing interest as one of the Arctic’s ‘closest neighbours’. However, its engagement is constrained by the current devolution settlement. European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes have been one important way through which the Scottish Government can directly engage with European and non-European partners. This paper explores the routes through which the Scottish Government engages with partners from the High North. The paper focuses on Scotland’s role in the Northern Periphery and Arctic programme, an ETC programme which spans the northern parts of Europe from Russia to Greenland. The paper draws on an extensive survey carried out among Scottish partners and focus groups with key stakeholders in Scotland. From a theoretical perspective the paper demonstrates the blurring between high and low politics in a multi-level system.
