Wed, 05 Jun, 2013 12:02:10 AM 2-day Barents -Euro-Arctic cooperation held in Norway FTimes Report, June 05  Finnish prime minister Jyrki Katainen speaks during the "Barents Summit 2013" in Kirkenes in the extreme north east of Norway, Tuesday. Photo AFP-Lehtikuva The Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen has emphasised on strengthening cross-border connections in the Euro-Arctic region to safeguard the material and mental well-being of the people living in the north.
Speaking at the Barents Euro-Arctic Council held at Kirkenes in Norway, on Monday and Tuesday in observance of the 20th anniversary of the summit, the Finland Premier underscored the enhancement of language skills, vocational competences and networks which will help companies and unemployed people to find each other within the northern region.
“Finland finds it important to strengthen cross-border connections in the region to safeguard the material and mental well-being of the people living in the north,” said Katainen terming the Barents region as the most densely populated Arctic region.
The meeting focused on the development of the Barents Region, which covers the North Calotte and Northwest Russia, and cooperation between the countries in the region. The Nordic countries, Russia and the EU are members of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
(Front row L-R) Iceland's Prime minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, Russia's Prime minister Dmitrij Medvedev, Norway's Prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, Finland's Prime minister Jyrki Katainen, (back row L to R) Project assistant of ecolabel RES-E project Anna Rybalova, Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Vice- President of the European Commission Siim Kallas, Swedish politician Sven Erik Osterberg and President of the Saami Parliament in Sweden Lars-Anders Baer pose for photographers at the Barents Euroarctic council meeting in Kirkenes, Norway on June 4, 2013. Photo AFP-Lehtikuva Finland will assume the chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in October after the current Norwegian chairmanship.
During its term, Finland will place emphasis on issues relating to mining industry and transport in the region and draw attention to the effects of climate change on the region's vulnerable environment. Young people's opportunities for participation will also occupy a central role.
“Enhancing regional cooperation between various actors in Northern Europe is important to Finland. The chairmanship of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, which coincides with our Barents chairmanship, and Finland's strong role in the EU's Northern Dimension policies provide us with excellent means to seek to dovetail the various objectives together,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Katainen also had bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, and the new Prime Minister of Iceland, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. The discussion with Prime Minister Medvedev focused on cooperation in the field of innovation and opportunities for cooperation in building ships designed for the Arctic.
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