News about Barents cooperation

Russia announced its decision to withdraw from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council on 18 September. The Barents cooperation will now continue between Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and the European Union, as it has continued since the Barents partners condemned Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine in March 2022.

The Discover Barents 2023 Photography Competition was launched on 23 March 2023. It is open to all those interested in photography in the participating countries (Finland, Sweden and Norway) until 23 July 2023.

Finland’s Sámi Parliament and the Finnish Presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council will organise together with the European Parliament a Summit of Barents Euro-Arctic Indigenous Sámi People in Brussels from 22 to 24 March 2023.

The practical cooperation of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) is carried out by working groups in various fields, including the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region. The Working Group has a special role in Barents cooperation: in addition to its operational role, it serves as an advisory body for the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (government level) and the Barents Regional Council.

Sustainable development, contacts between people, transport and logistics will remain as other priorities.

Senior officials responsible for Barents cooperation in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and the EU will meet in Kuusamo, Finland, on 30–31 May. Ambassador Jari Vilén will lead the discussion on the next steps during Finland’s Presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC).

Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the European Union have condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine.

A historical comics about the explorer Willem Barents' third expedition to the Northern seas in 1596–1597.

Barentsin hankerahaston (Barents Financial Mechanism, BFM) toiminta käynnistetään Suomen Barentsin euroarktisen neuvoston (Barents Euro-Arctic Council, BEAC) puheenjohtajakaudella 2021-2023 ja ensimmäinen haku avataan 24.4.2022.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto presents the priorities of Finland’s Presidency in connection with the Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit conference on 16 November.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will present the priorities of Finland’s Presidency in connection with the Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit conference on 16 November. In Rovaniemi, the Minister will also meet representatives of the Sámi Parliament and speak at the University of Lapland.

On 25–26 October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Foreign Minister’s meeting of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council in Tromsø. The meeting will end Norway’s Chairmanship, after which the Chairmanship will be handed over to Finland for the next two years.