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Norwegian-Finnish Arctic partnership in the pipeline

Erkki Tuomioja and Børge Brende
Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja (left) and and his Norwegian counterpart Børge Brende have discussed future cooperation.

Norway and Finland are establishing an Arctic partnership for increased cooperation in the High North.

Location

The two Arctic neighbors are strengthening bonds to enhance economic and scientific cooperation in the High North. Norway and Finland share a 730-kilometre border above the Arctic Circle and have a number of common interests in relation to the development of the High North.

The Arctic partnership was launched a meeting in Helsinki on Wednesday between Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende and his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioja.

“Our aim is that the High North becomes an innovative and knowledge-based region of growth. In order to achieve this, it is essential that the transfer of knowledge, expertise and services across borders is increased. The Arctic partnership with Finland is a good example of how we are giving priority to cooperation of this kind across sectors and borders,” said Mr Brende, according to the Ministry’s web site.

The sector ministries in both countries are examining the possibilities, for example, of strengthening student exchange and research cooperation, deepening the bilateral dialogue on transport and logistics, as well as promoting border region cooperation and the movement of labor and services within established bilateral and regional cooperation structures. 

President Sauli Niinistö raised the idea of the Arctic Partnership already during his State visit to Norway in October 2012, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ web site reads.