The Barents Region and the High North is of rapidly growing interest for the EU. At the same time, the Barents Region needs the EU, the same way as non-members Norway and Russia is dependent on a successful cooperation with the union structures.
BarentsObserver believes all stakeholders in the region would benefit from the Union elaborating a Barents Strategy. That could put the region higher on the Brussels agenda and open new channels of contact and cooperation between regional authorities and EU structures.
The elaboration of regional strategies is already high on the EU’s agenda. A new EU strategy for the Baltic region is to be presented in June this year. In a recent seminar organized by the North Norway European Office in Brussels, EU Commission DG-Regio representative Ann-Kerstin Myleus said the strategy, the first of its kind, is planned adopted in October. That strategy – a cross-sectoral initiative – is to be followed up with an action plan, and result in more efficient regional EU policies.
Ms. Myleus confirmed that the Baltic strategy is likely to result in similar strategies being developed also in other European regions. That should open the way for the elaboration of the EU Barents strategy.
Parts of the Barents Region will in the years to come see new industrial initiatives of significant importance for the European Union. One of them – the Shtokman gas field in the Barents Sea – is planned to supply EU countries with huge amounts of energy, thus increasing EU dependency of Barents Sea resources.
The Barents Region also has a developed international East-West cooperation with an active participation of regional-level authorities. The Barents Cooperation is the northernmost region-building initiative in Europe, and one of the most perspective ones in terms of economic potential.
Ms. Myleus in the seminar maintained that Norway’s and Russia’s non-membership in the union complicates EU initiatives in the Barents Region. However, if the union can develop a Baltic Strategy it should also be able to elaborate a Barents Strategy. Afterall, the role of non-EU member Russia in the Baltic region can not be underestimated.
The upcoming Barents Council meeting in Murmansk due October this year would be a good event for EU members Sweden and Finland to officially propose the elaboration of a Barents Strategy.
A strengthening of EU presence and participation in the High North will eventually benefit both EU, Norway, Russia and the Barents Region.
