Foreign Minister Haavisto to the EU Arctic Forum in Brussels

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the EU Arctic Forum in Brussels on 10 November.

“As an Arctic Member State of the EU, Finland has made determined efforts to promote the weight of the region in the EU, because the Arctic region is important not only for Finland but also for the whole of Europe and for the entire world,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto.

The fourth EU Arctic Forum will bring together key Arctic players and stakeholders to assess recent developments in the region and to discuss future challenges. The EU’s new Arctic Strategy, which was published recently, strengthens commitment to creating a greener, more stable and more prosperous Arctic region. The Arctic Indigenous Peoples Dialogue will also be continued at the Forum. 

The event will be opened by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius. Foreign Minister Haavisto will participate in a high-level panel session on international cooperation in the Arctic. The panellists aim to discuss ways to maintain the security, stability, wellbeing and vitality of the Arctic region and to ensure that it remains an area of low tensions and peaceful multilateral cooperation. 

In addition to attending the Arctic Forum, Foreign Minister Haavisto will meet European Commissioners Jutta Urpilainen, Janez Lenarčič, Ylva Johansson and Olivér Várhelyi as well as Stefano Sannino, Secretary-General of the European External Action Service.

Inquiries:  

Anu Konttinen, Diplomatic Adviser to Foreign Minister Haavisto, tel. +358 295 350 323

Petteri Vuorimäki, Ambassador for the Arctic and Antarctic, tel. +358 295 350 458