In addition, the document does not include even a mention about the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation, one of the most successful platforms for regional cross-border action in the area.
The communication, presented by the EU Commission yesterday, outlines the union’s main positions on the Arctic Region and is to prepare the ground for a new EU Arctic Policy. Enhanced multilateral governance is highlighted as one of three main priorities in the document.
It highlights the need for “a broad policy dialogue, on the basis of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea”.
It also promotes the Northern Dimension partnerships, as well as the Arctic Council as key bodies for Arctic cooperation. Both Russia and Norway are members of those structures.
However, the document does not include any special mention about the importance of integrating Russia in the union’s new Arctic Policy. The document also do not include the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation, a structure, which has developed into a key platform for regional cross-border cooperation in the northernmost part of the continent. In the Barents Cooperation, both the Russian federal level and five Russian regions are closely involved in international cooperation with neighbouring Norway, Finland and Sweden.
Along with the EU, also Russia is in the process of formulating priorities for the Arctic and will in the years to come play an increasingly important role in issues of environment, energy and processes like the delineation of the Arctic shelf.
For Europe and the EU, it will be of major importance to include Russia in its Arctic priorities. That will benefit both the union and Russia.
BarentsObserver editorial, 21 November 2008
Read the EU Communication on the Arctic here
