According to the Statement the Conference asks to “move forward on the plans by the European Commission to set up an EU Arctic Information Centre, taking note of the idea to set up such a centre as a network with a hub at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, Finland, and cooperating with relevant research institutions”.
The EU Arctic Information Centre initiative was also discussed in Brussels on September 14th when the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had invited a discussion seminar on topic. The interest was high with over 80 participants representing different EU institutions, universities and research institutions, many countries and so on.
Discussion was opened by Finnish Arctic Ambassador Mr. Hannu Halinen followed by Ms. Diana Wallis, the vice president of the European Parliament and Mr. Raimo Väyrynen, chairman of the board of the University of Lapland.
Ms. Wallis spoke about her very positive impressions after visiting the Arctic Centre in Rovaniemi on late August.
- Why not have Rovaniemi to provide the heart of the EU Arctic information, she asked.
Director of the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, professor Paula Kankaanpää presented the concept of building the EU Arctic Information Centre as a network of institutions and service packages with a hub at the Arctic Centre.
Read also: EU foreign policy constructions in Finnish Lapland
This was followed by a lively discussion during which many institutions and stakeholders (such as UArctic, UNEP, Nordic Sami Parliaments, Polar Libraries Colloquium, representatives of Norway and France, some MEP’s and Finnish Parliamentarians) supported the initiative. Representatives of the European Commission however informed that they are not yet ready to move forward with this concept.
This was the first time to discuss the EU Arctic Information Centre concept in open forum. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of Lapland will continue developing the plans.
