Prime Minister Katainen to the 20th anniversary summit of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
Government Communications Department
Press release 254/2013
30.5.2013
On 3-4 June, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen will participate in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) summit in Kirkenes, Norway. The prime ministers' summit in Kirkenes will mark 20 years of successful collaboration across borders in the Barents region. The summit will focus on future economic and social objectives, as well as goals relating to the environment and climate change in the Barents region. The Barents Euro-Arctic Council aims at promoting stability and sustainable development and increasing security in the North Calotte and North-Western Russia.
The summit will sign the Kirkenes II Declaration that will provide guidelines for Barents cooperation for the coming years. Barents cooperation started in 1993 when the first Kirkenes Declaration on Cooperation in the Barents Euro‐Arctic Region was signed.
For Finland, cooperation in the Barents region is part of broader Arctic policy. Barents cooperation brings a regional, practical-level perspective to it. The summit will provide an opportunity to exchange views on key questions, such as those relating to the economic potential of the region, mining activities, transport infrastructure, and environmental and climate issues. Barents cooperation and issues relating to the Barents region are of special importance to the provinces and actors in the Northern region. The directors of the three regional councils of Northern Finland are members of the Barents Regional Council. A representative of the Finnish Sámi Parliament participates in the work of the Barents working group of indigenous peoples. The economic potential of the area attracts the interest of Finnish businesses on a broader basis.
The Nordic countries, Russia and the EU are members of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. At the moment, Norway holds the BEAC chairmanship. Finland will take over the chairmanship at the foreign ministers' meeting in Tromssa in October 2013.
Cooperation in the Barents area has managed to improve stability in the area. It has provided significant added value by bringing governments and local actors together and encouraging commitment to the attainment of common goals. Cooperation has provided the means to establish cross-border networks between governments, regions, universities, NGOs, indigenous peoples, the media, cultural operators as well as individuals.
Inquiries: Antti Vänskä, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, International Affairs, tel. +358 40 513 1458; Marja-Leena Vuorenpää, Barents Ambassador, tel. +358 40 481 9678 and Päivi Mutanen-Pirttilä, Communications Specialist, tel. +358 40 705 3323