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Cooperation
last update: Feb 17, 2009 02:27 PM
Cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region
Cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region was launched in 1993 on two levels: intergovernmental (Barents Euro-Arctic Council, BEAC), and interregional (Barents Regional Council, BRC), with sustainable development as the overall objective. The region was an area of military confrontation during the Cold War. The underlying premise was that close cooperation would secure long-term stability in political and other relations and reduce possible tensions. This objective has already been successfully achieved. The Barents cooperation has fostered a new sense of unity and closer contact among the people of the region which is an excellent basis for further progress.
Cooperation in governmental and regional level
The members of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council are
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the European
Commission. The chair of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council rotates
between Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Russia holds the
chairmanship from November 2007 to November 2009. Thirteen counties or similar sub-national entities form the Barents Regional Council (BRC). The county of Oulu is the chair of the BRC 2008-2009. The representatives of the three indigenous peoples, the Sámi, the Nenets and the Vepsians, cooperate in the Working Group of Indigenous Peoples. It has an advisory role in relation to both the BEAC and the BRC. Where appropriate, there is also coordination with the relevant
activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Council of Baltic
Sea States and the Arctic Council.
