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Co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic RegionKirkenes,
Norway,
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The
Kirkenes Declaration
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A conference on co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region took place in Kirkenes, Norway, on 11 January, 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 Participants expressed their conviction that expanded co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region will contribute substantially to stability and progress in the area and in Europe as a whole, where partnership is now replacing the confrontation and division of the past. The Participants felt that such co-operation will contribute to international peace and security. The Participants saw the Barents co-operatation initiative as part of the process of evolving European co-operation and integration, which has been given a new dimension with the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. They considered the establishment of a Council of the Baltic Sea States in Copenhagen in March 1992 as a further contribution to strengthening regional co-operation in Europe. They also stated their conviction that the establishment of closer co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region will be an important contribution to the new European architecture, providing closer ties between the Northern parts of Europe and the rest of the European continent. The Participants expressed support for the ungoing process of reform in Russlia which aims, inter alia, at strengthening democracy, market reforms, and local institutions, and which is therefore important for closer regional co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region. The Participants expressed their desire to support the long-standing aspirations of the peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region for friendship and co-operation, and stressed the fundamental significance of the historical changes caused by the end of ideological and military confrontation in Europe. They welcomed the initial steps that have been taken at the local and regional level to expand co-operation, in particular the establishment of an interregional working group by counties in Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. They expressed their appreciation for the valuable work carried out by the northernmost counties of Finland, Norway, and Sweden in the "Nordkalottkommittén" (The North Calotte Committee) during the past two decades. They took note of the report from the Expert Conference on the Region, in Kirkenes on 25-27 September 1992. They also took note of the October 1992 International Expert Conference on the Northern Sea Route in Tromso, Norway. The Barents Euro-Arctic Council and its objectives The Participants recognized the features characteristic of this Arctic Region, especially its harsh climate, sparse population and vast territory. They agreed, therefore, to examine how they can improve the conditions för local co-operation between local authorities, institutions, industry and commerce across the borders of the Region. To this end, the Participants agreed to establish a Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, hereinafter called the Council, to provide impetus to existing co-operation and consider new initiatives and proposals. (See terms of reference). The objective of the work of the Council will be to promote sustainable development in the Region, bearing in mind the principles and recommendations set out in the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 of UNCED. To this end, the Council will serve as a forum for considering bilateral and multilateral co-operation in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, tourism, the environment, infrastructure, educational and cultural exchange, as well as projects particularly aimed at improving the situation of indigenous peoples in the North. The Participants emphasized that the Council will not duplicate or replace ongoing work in other bilateral or multilateral fora, but will where appropriate seek to give impetus and coherence to regional co-operation and encourage new common efforts, bilateral and multilateral, to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the Region. They welcomed the establishment of a Regional Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region which will include county officials in the area constituting the Region and representation of the indigenous peoples of the Region. Participation and area of application The Participants emphasized that co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region is open to those stetes that wish to take an active part. The Participants decided that regional co-operation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region will comprise the county of Lapland in Finland, the counties of Finnmark, Troms and Nordland in Norway, the counties of Murmansk and Archangel in Russia, and the county of Norrbotten in Sweden. They noted that the Region might be extended to include other counties in the future. The Participants recalled the Joint Declaration from the meeting of the Ministers of Environment of the Nordic Countries and the Russian Federation in Kirkenes on 3 September 1992, and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, signed 22 September 1992, and underlined the importance of strengthening bilateral and multilateral co-operation to protect the vulnerable environment of the Region. The Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the Strategy for Protection of the Arctic Environment, adopted at the Ministerial Meeting in Rovaniemi 1991, and to the ongoing work in implementing that strategy, especially within the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP). An action programme to assess and prevent the risk of pollution from emissions from industry, nuclear installations, and dumping of hazardous waste in the Region is urgently needed and should be prepared in due time for presentation at the next Ministerial Meeting for the Protection of the Arctic Environment, to be held 14-16 September 1993 at Nuuk, Greenland. The Participants emphasized that the environmental dimension must be fully integrated into all activities in the Regiont, inter alia, through the establishment by the states in the Region of common ecological criteria for the exploitation of natural resources and the prevention of pollution at source, and recognized that solving the existing major transboundary environmental problems will be important in realizing the potential for broader co-operation in the Region. The Participants stated that the risk of contamination of the environment of the Region by radioactive substances is a serious problem and must be solved, inter alia, through international co-operation and the improvement of technology for the handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive waste and the operational safety of nuclear facilities. The Participants noted the importance of international co-operation in the following areas:
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The Participants empliasized that in particular instances, such as for measures to improve nuclear safety and to reduce air polluting emissions from the nickel production on the Kola Peninsula, international financial arrangements in addition to national financial contributions may be considered with a view to finding cost-effective solutions. The Participants recognized the importance of increased economic co-operation in the Region in the form of trade, investment, industrial co-operation, etc. In view of the environmentally vulnerable character of the Region, they stressed the particular importance of observing the provisions of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the ElA Convention), signed 25 February 1991, and the principles of environmental soundness and sustainabillty in all fields of economic co-operation. The Participants agreed to explore ways and means to encourage trade and investment and to provide a framework conducive to broader co-operation on a commercial basis at the enterprise level. The Participants recognized the potential for development in the Region in the field of energy on an environmentally sound basis. They underlined the importance of co-operation with regard to energy saving measures. The Participants recognized the role of the European Energy Charter in making the fundamental link between energy, the environment and economic development. The Participants recommended that conditions be created for enhanced co-operation in the conversion of military industries and facilities, inter alia, on a commercial basis. The Participants agreed to co-operate in developing the efficiency of agricultural production in Arctic and Sub-arctic areas, inter alia, in order to secure sufficient supplies of food of high quality. In view of the similar climatic conditions in the Region, the Participants underlined the importance of exchanging experience and skills within the area in fields such as reindeer husbandry and forestry. Scientific and technogical co-operation The Participants recognized the importance of scientific and technological co-operation in dealing with the Region's problems, including the promotion of relevant cold climate technologies. They noted the opportunities that exist for such co-operation in fields related to geology, oceanography, atmospheric physics, ecology and environmental protection, and technological fields such as construction, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, mining, offshore technology and transportation and communications applicable to the specific regional conditions. The Participants emphasized the need to exchange relevant experience and information and encourage the transfer of technologies. They proposed that task force laboratories, expeditions and the like be set up to pursue specific projects and scientific programmes. The Participants stressed the role that the International Arctic Science Committee could play in developing scientific research. The Participants recognized the importance of co-operation in the training of personnel. The Participants underlined the importance of improving the infrastructure for transport and communications in the Region. The participants noted studies and discussions already initiated at the bilateral and multilateral level regarding the transport and communications needs of the Region and possible action to meet those needs. The Participants urged that preliminary and final results from such studies and discussions should be made available as appropriate to all participating states in order to avoid duplication of effort. The Participants decided to ask the ministers responsible for transport and communications to consider possibilities for co-operation based, inter alia, on studies already in progress on the transport and communications needs of the Region. The Participants expressed recognition of the progress already achieved through bilateral co-operation in the development of telecommunications and voiced support for further efforts on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis for the continued improvement of telecommunications in the Region. The Participants concerned reaffirmed their commitment to the rights of their indigenous peoples in the North in keeping with the objectives set out in Chapter 26 on Indigenous People of Agenda 21. They stated their commitment to strengthen the indigenous communities of the Region, and to ensure that the cooperation now being initiated will take the interests of indigenous peoples into consideration. The Participants concerned took note of the proposed establishment of a Working Group for Indigenous Issues with representatives from the indigenous peoples and authorities and the central authorities from Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. They agreed that the Working Group might consider, also an the basis of international cultural expeditions to areas of Nenets and Sámi, preparing a regional programme for the restoration and preservation of Nenets and Sami cultural monuments, the establishment on a regional basis of a Nenets cultural centre in the Nenets Autonomous Region, the establishment of a corresponding Sami centre in the town of Lovozero in the county of Murmansk, and the establishment of an appropriate regional medical foundation. The Participants agreed to exchange information regarding existing or proposed legislation with a bearing on the position of indigenous peoples in their respective countries. Human contacts and cultural relations The Participants stressed that wider human contacts and increased cultural co-operation in the Region should be encouraged to promote constructive co-operation and good neighbourly relations. Among the areas of co-operation which could be considered are:
The Participants recognized that tourism may play a more important part in the economy of the Region and agreed that the promotion of tourism across national borders will strengthen human contacts and mutually beneficial economic development with positive effects for employment and business activities. They called for steps to encourage co-operation in the field of tourism at national, regional and local levels, and for common efforts to develop tourism infrastructure and facilities. The provisions of the ElA Convention should be duly taken into account in this context. |
This document was first published on the web by Ardea Miljö AB, on 6 June 1999.