Arctic questions discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council

Press release 124/2016
20 June 2016

The EU Foreign Ministers discussed issues related to the Arctic and the EU policy for the Arctic at their meeting in Luxembourg on 20 June. Finland's representative at the meeting was Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini. The meeting adopted the Council conclusions on the EU policy for the Arctic.

In his address, Foreign Minister Soini emphasised the growing importance of the Arctic region in international relations. The chairmanship of the Arctic Council will be transferred from the United States to Finland in May 2017 and the necessary preparations are under way.

The goals adopted at the Paris Climate Change Conference in December 2015 are binding on all parties. As climate change affects the Arctic region in particular, it is important to ensure sustainable development of the regions of the north and to create workplaces leading to growth and investments.

Foreign Minister Soini noted that the European Union is a central actor in the Arctic region and that Finland supports enhanced EU policy for the Arctic. The EU must promote the development of the northern regions through its financial instruments and by means of investing in research and innovation.

On 27 April 2016, the EU published a Joint Communication on the Arctic, in the preparation of which Finland participated actively. Foreign Minister Soini stressed that an efficient implementation of the communication guidelines is important and that sufficient resources and regular monitoring and discussion are required. Soini hoped that an EU meeting dealing with further measures could be held in Finland in the near future.

Inquiries: Raili Lahnalampi, Chief of Cabinet, Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 50 550 7546 and Aleksi Härkönen, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, tel. +358 50 462 4471

The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are of the format [email protected]