Barents Euro-Arctic Council to convene in Kiruna
The 13th Ministerial Session of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council will take place in Kiruna, Sweden on 12 October. The themes of the meeting are economic development of the Barents region, human wellbeing and the responsible use of natural resources. The meeting in Kiruna will adopt a Joint Communiqué guiding Barents cooperation for the next few years.
In Finland’s view, the bringing together of government and regional actors means important added value as concerns cooperation within the framework of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. Finland will have the chairmanship of the Council in 2013–2015.
The Finnish delegation to the meeting will be led by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja. Representatives from Lapland, Oulu and Kainuu Regions as well as representatives of the Saami Parliament will also attend the meeting.
The Barents Euro-Arctic Council, established in 1993, is an international cooperation forum whose member States are the Nordic countries and Russia. The aim of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council is to promote stability and sustainable development in the Barents region.
Further information: Ambassador Hannu Halinen, mobile tel. +3458 40 178 2053, First Secretary for administrative affairs Paula Laamanen, tel. +358 9 1605 5676