While Russian authorities over the last weeks have conducted nationwide inspections of non-profit organizations, the European Union now strongly advise to give the same groups a stronger role in both the Arctic and Barents cooperation.
European Economic and Social Committee recently adopted an opinion stating that EU should endeavor to strengthen cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council as well as the Regional Council. The committee says this is because they both play a key role in cross-border interaction amongst the 13 member regions in Norway, Sweden, Russia and Finland.
“Much more transparency and public information on the Arctic and cooperation in the region is needed,” reads the opinion from Brussels. The aim is to support the voice and organized representation of civil society in the Arctic countries.
Today, none civil society groups are observers to the Barents Council, while the Arctic Council have nine NGO-observers, like WWF, International Arctic Science Committee and the International Union for Circumpolar Health. Although not officially member, the Working Group of Indigenous Peoples is invited to the Barents Council meetings.
The European Commission is officially a member of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. It is not known if the Commission will raise the issue of NGOs possible stronger role in the Barents Council when the new so-called Kirkenes-declaration outlining the future of the Barents cooperation will be discussed at the up-coming Prime Ministers’ meeting on June 4th.
The EU opinion on Arctic Policy document reads: “key civil society partners should be given a stronger advisory role in the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council on issues concerning civil society.”
Cooperation between civil society groups have traditionally been one of the cornerstones in the regional cooperation across the borders in the Barents Region.
