Barents Euro-Arctic Council
AbbreviationBEAC
Formation1993, Kirkenes Declaration
TypeIntergovernmental Organization
PurposeForum for intergovernmental cooperation in the Barents region
Membership
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, European Commission
Websitebarents-council.org

The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) is the official body for inter-governmental co-operation in the Barents Region. It seeks solutions wherever and whenever the countries can achieve more together than by working on their own. 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). The overall objective of Barents cooperation has been sustainable development.

In 2008, the International Barents Secretariat was established in Kirkenes. The secretariat supports the multilateral activities within the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and Barents Regional Council and secures the coherence and efficiency of the cooperation. The IBS maintains the archives of the Barents Euro-Arctic council and the Barents Regional Council and works as an information database.

Where appropriate, there is also coordination with the relevant activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Arctic Council and the Northern Dimension.

History

During the Cold War the Barents region was an area of military confrontation. The underlying premise was that close cooperation secures political long-term stability and reduces 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.

Kirkenes Declaration

BEAC was founded at the conference on cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region took place in Kirkenes (Norway) on 11 January 1993 in accordance with the Kirkenes Declaration of 1993. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs or representatives of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the Commission of the European Communities participated in the conference, which was also attended by observers from the United States of America, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The BEAC was created in order to provide impetus to existing cooperation and consider new initiatives and proposals. The objective of the work of the council is to promote sustainable development in the Barents region, bearing in mind the principles and recommendations set out in the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 of UNCED.[1]

The regional representatives together with a representative from the indigenous peoples signed a co-operation protocol[2] establishing the Barents Regional Council (BRC) to support the cooperation in the Barents region in regional level at the same time as the BEAC was established. The aim of the BRC is to cooperate in the regional level following the Kirkenes Declaration.

Barents Euro-Arctic Council

Members

  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Iceland
  • Norway
  • Russia (leaving in September 2023[3][4])
  • Sweden
  • European Commission

Observers to BEAC

  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

Chairmanship

The chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council rotates between Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Finland holds the chairmanship for the period 2021–2023.

List of holders of chairmanship
YearsCountryChairmanship Program
2021−23Finland[5]
2019−21Norway[6]
2017−19Sweden[7]
2015−17Russia[8]
2013−15Finland[9]
2011−13Norway[10]
2009−11Sweden[11]
2007−09Russia[12]

Ministerial Meetings

Ministers of the four Barents countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia) have met regularly since the Kirkenes Declaration in 1993. The BEAC Foreign Minister's Sessions is the highest decision-making body in the whole Barents cooperation.[13] Foreign ministers meet biannually with the transferring the BEAC Chairmanship to the next country. The XVIII BEAC Foreign Ministers' meeting took place in Tromsø, Norway on 26 October 2021. Also Prime Ministers, Ministers of Environment, Transport, Culture, Competitiveness and Health have met and discussed topical issues. The meeting documents and joint declarations can be found here.

Foreign Ministers Declarations
Year
2011 Joint Communiqué of the 13th Ministerial Session[14]

Joint Communiqué of the 13th Ministerial Session RUS[15]

2013 Joint Communique[16]
2015 Joint Communiqué[17]
2017 Joint Declaration[18]
2019 Declaration[19]
2021 Declaration[20]

Declaration RUS[21]

Committee of Senior Officials

The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) is the BEAC body responsible for coordinating the cooperation activities and organizing the work within BEAC between the meetings at the Foreign Minister level.[22] The CSO is represented by the civil servants from the governments of the member states and the European Union. Representatives of the observer countries have the right to participate. The CSO meets on a regular basis 4-5 times per year in the country holding the Chairmanship of the BEAC. The Chairperson of the CSO is a representative of the government of the chair country.

Barents Regional Council (BRC)

Members

  • Finland: Kainuu, Lapland, Oulu, North Karelia
  • Norway: Nordland, Troms, Finnmark
  • Sweden: Norrbotten, Västerbotten

Observers

  • Council of Christian Churches in the Barents Region
  • Parliamentary Association of North West Russia

The BRC unites fourteen counties or similar sub-national entities from the Barents Region and the chairmanship of the BRC rotates between these counties. Nenets, Russia, is the chair of the BRC for the period 2021–2023.

Chairmanship

The chairmanship rotates biennially between participating regions in Finland, Norway, the Russian Federation and Sweden.

Chairs of the BRC
Years Region Chairmanship Program
2021–23 Nenets Autonomous Okrug [23][24]
2019–21 Västerbotten [25]
2017–19 Finnmark [26]
2015–17 Kainuu [27][28]
2013–15 Arkhangelsk [29][30]
2011–13 Norrbotten [31][32]
2009-11 Troms County Council [33]
2007-09 Council of Oulu Region [34]

Meetings and Priorities

The BRC meets twice a year and is composed of the highest regional representatives of the participating regions as well as representatives of all three groups of indigenous peoples of the Barents region. Regional Committee (RC) prepares the meetings. RC consists of civil servants from member counties.

Priorities for the regional cooperation are identified in the Barents Program[35] which is a framework for the inter-regional Barents cooperation. The program is an operational framework to strengthen the Barents cooperation and offer a joint platform to maintain stable development and people-to-people cooperation in the North.

Working groups

The two councils have established thematic Working Groups. The Working Groups constitute a cross-border platform for exchange between civil servants and professionals in respective field both on the national and regional level. Over the past years, the Working Groups have also implemented several projects.

Working Group of Indigenous Peoples

The representatives of the three indigenous peoples, the Sámi, the Nenets and the Vepsians, cooperate in the Working Group of Indigenous Peoples (WGIP). It has an advisory role in both the BEAC and the BRC which means that their participation is welcome in all Barents Working Groups. The WGIP Chair is also member of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and the Barents Regional Committee, and that they are always represented at the BEAC Ministerial Sessions and the Barents Regional Council meetings.

Barents Regional Youth Council

Logo of the Barents Regional Youth Council

Barents Regional Youth Council (BRYC) consists of youth representatives from Northern regions of Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden and has an indigenous youth representative from one of the indigenous peoples of the Barents Region. BRYC promotes the interests of young people living in the Barents region. It aims to strengthen people-to-people cooperation and empower young people to participate actively. BRYC members are elected by youth councils or chosen by their county administration. The council meets two times a year to discuss youth activities of the region. BRYC Annual Meeting and Annual Event are the main activities of the BRYC.[36]

List of the BEAC Working Groups

Practical Cooperation in the Working Groups

Barents Scholarship for Cultural Cooperation

The Finnish scholarship recipient was The Artists’ Association of Lapland in Tromsø, Norway 2021

Barents Scholarship for Cultural Cooperation was established by the Ministers of Culture of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in 2016. The scholarships have been awarded in Arkhangelsk in 2017, in Umeå in 2019 and in Tromsø in 2021, once per BEAC presidency. Scholarships are awarded to professional artists and artistic associations within the cultural field in the Barents region. Scholarships are based on an overall assessment of experience and ambitions, artistic quality in previous work and Barents affiliation.[37]

Barents Environmental Hot Spots

Barents environmental hot spots are major polluters and issues imposing environmental hazards to surrounding communities and nature. The hot spot list from 2003 consists of 42 hot spots[38] from various sectors such as mining and metallurgy, pulp and paper, water and wastewater located in the Russian part of the Barents region. In 2005 Environment Ministers of the four Barents countries defined a goal to launch investment projects in all Barents Environmental Hot Spots aiming to eliminate them. Subgroup on Hot Spots Exclusion was established under the Working Group on Environment to facilitate the process. Significant environmental improvements have been achieved and 12 full hot spots and 3 partial ones have been eliminated. Work at other sites is being continued. [39]

Nature protection and water issues

The Subgroup on Nature and Water (SNW) works with biodiversity conservation, protected areas, sustainable forestry management, sustainable management of water resources and water use, transboundary water bodies, mitigation and adaptation to climate change and ecosystem approach. Work is based on projects.[40]

Barents Rescue Cooperation

Aim of the Barents rescue cooperation is to improve the possibilities of the rescue service agencies to cooperate across the national, federal and regional borders on emergency and rescue issues. It is possible to provide assistance more effectively, faster and at lower operating cost in the region of long distances, sparsely populated rural communities, limited rescue personnel and equipment, restricted means for transport and hospital resources available in case of larger accidents. Agreement on Cooperation within the field of Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response[41] defines the objectives and scope of the cooperation. The Committee has developed the Barents Joint Rescue Manual[42] which is the operational tool of the rescue cooperation. Rescue cooperation is practiced in the Barents Rescue Exercises organized every third year. [43]

Barents Euro-Arctic Transport Area

Barents Euro-Arctic Transport Area (BEATA) is established to strengthen cooperation in order to create an efficient transport system in the Barents Region. BEATA cooperation integrates the different means of transport including border crossing points, customs co-operation, maintenance and reconstruction as well as new projects to improve infrastructure. Barents Region Transport and Logistics (BRTL) action plan [44] is collected under three key development areas which are development of industrial ecosystems, transport corridors and platforms for information sharing. The BRTL is directed to be a road map and action plan for regional level cooperation to raise up questions, development needs and regional special characteristics related to transport and logistics topics. The action plan is based on series of projects.

See also

References

[45][46][47][48][49][50]

  1. ↑ "Kirkenes Declaration 1993" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Protocol Agreement from the Statutory Meeting of the Regional Council of the Barents Region" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  3. ↑ "Lavrov formally withdraws Russia from Barents cooperation". The Independent Barents Observer. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  4. ↑ "Russia Quits Barents Euro-Arctic Council in Spat Over Presidency". Bloomberg.com. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  5. ↑ "The Finnish Presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council 2021–2023".
  6. ↑ "Norwegian Chairmanship program 2019–2021" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  7. ↑ "Swedish Chairmanship program 2017–2019" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  8. ↑ "Russian Chairmanship priorities 2015–2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  9. ↑ "Finnish BEAC Chairmanship program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  10. ↑ "Norwegian Chairmanship priorities 2011–2013" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-03-15.
  11. ↑ "Swedish Chairmanship Programme 2009-11" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  12. ↑ "Program of the Russian Charmanship in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council 2007–2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  13. ↑ "Ministerial Meetings – Beac". www.barents-council.org. Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  14. ↑ "Joint Communiqué of the 13th Ministerial Session" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  15. ↑ "Joint Communiqué of the 13th Ministerial Session RUS" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  16. ↑ "Joint Communiqué" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  17. ↑ "XV Session of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Joint Communiqué" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  18. ↑ "XVI Session of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Joint Declaration" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  19. ↑ "Umeå Declaration" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  20. ↑ "Tromsø Declaration" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  21. ↑ "Tromsø Declaration" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  22. ↑ "Committee of Senior Officials – Beac". www.barents-council.org. Archived from the original on 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  23. ↑ "Nenets Autonomous okrug, Chairmanship of the Barents Regional Council" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  24. ↑ "Nenete Autonomous okrug Chairmanship of the Barents Regional Council RUS" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  25. ↑ "Barents Regional Council Västerbotten Chairmanship Program 2019–2021" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  26. ↑ "BRC Finnmark Chairmanship Priorities" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  27. ↑ "Chairmanship priorities of Kainuu Region 2015–2017" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  28. ↑ "Kainuun puheenjohtajuuskauden prioriteetit 2015–2017 FIN" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  29. ↑ "Chairmanship Priorities of Arkhangelsk Region Government 2013–2015" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  30. ↑ "Arkhangelsk Region Chairmanship Program RUS" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  31. ↑ "Chairmanship Program 2011–2013" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  32. ↑ "Chairmanship Program 2011–2013 RUS" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  33. ↑ "Troms Chairmanship 2009–2011 Areas of Priority" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  34. ↑ "Oulu Region's Barents Regional Council Chairmanship Priorities 2007–2009" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  35. ↑ "The Barents Program 2019–2023" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  36. ↑ "What is BRYC?". BRYC.
  37. ↑ "Barents Scholarship for Cultural Cooperation" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  38. ↑ Secretariat, International Barents (2022-01-17). "Hot Spots Tour". ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  39. ↑ "Barents Environmental Hot Spots". Barents Euro-Arctic Council (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  40. ↑ "Nature protection and water issues". Barents Euro-Arctic Council (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  41. ↑ "Agreement Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  42. ↑ "Barents Joint Rescue Manual" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  43. ↑ "Rescue Co-operation". Barents Euro-Arctic Council (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  44. ↑ "Barents Region Transport and Logistics Action Plan" (PDF). Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
  45. ↑ "Swedish Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council 2017–2019: Regional Sustainable Development for the Future". swemfa.se. Government Offices of Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-11-22. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  46. ↑ "The Barents Euro-Arctic Council". eib.org. European Investment Bank.
  47. ↑ "CBSS at the XVI Ministerial Meeting of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC)". cbss.org. Council of the Baltic Sea States. Archived from the original on 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2018-11-01.
  48. ↑ "THE FINNISH CHAIRMANSHIP IN THE BARENTS EURO-ARCTIC COUNCIL 2013–2015". oaarchive.arctic-council.org. Arctic Council.
  49. ↑ "JOINT DECLARATION XVI SESSION OF THE BARENTS EURO-ARCTIC COUNCIL Arkhangelsk, 18-19 October 2017". mid.ru. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
  50. ↑ "The Arctic Council and the Barents Region: Mutually Reinforcing Partners". worldpolicy.org. WORLD POLICY INSTITUTE.
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