Established in 1993 through the signing of the Kirkenes Declaration, the Barents Region was created to foster cooperation and stability in the Arctic and sub-Arctic territories of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Northwest Russia. The initiative emerged at a pivotal moment in European history, shortly after the end of the Cold War, with the aim of promoting peace, sustainable development, and people-to-people collaboration across former geopolitical divides.
Fisher Susanne Olsen Utse in the Barents Sea.
The region was named after the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz, symbolizing openness and exploration in the High North. The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) and the Barents Regional Council (BRC) were established to facilitate political and regional cooperation, making it one of the most comprehensive and enduring models of cross-border collaboration in the Arctic.
The creation of the Barents Region has had a profound impact on its approximately 5.3 million inhabitants, many of whom belong to indigenous communities such as the Sámi, Nenets, and Veps. Cross-border initiatives have enhanced cultural exchange, economic development, and environmental protection.
The region is characterized by its remoteness, harsh climate, and varied nature. The midnight sun lights up the northern parts of the region twenty-four seven from May to July and in the wintertime, the northern lights can be seen on the pitch-black sky. Furthermore, no other part of Europe contains as much forest, fish, minerals, oil, and gas. All these components of the region combined create the backbone of economic and business development in the region.
Today the cooperation in the Barents Region includes the following counties and regions:
in Finland: Oulu Region
in Norway: Nordland, Troms and Finnmark
in Sweden: Norrbotten and Västerbotten
Oulu region
The Oulu region is located in the middle of Finland, reaching all the way from Bothnian Bay to the eastern boarder of Finland. The area of over 45,000 km² makes the region second largest in Finland after Lapland. The region is home to over 400,000 inhabitants, most of which live in the city of Oulu. The vibrant city of Oulu has a diverse university, the second busiest airport of Finland, and exceptionally nice bicycle paths.
Bicycling in Oulu.
Norbotten
Norbotten, Sweden's most northern region, spans over 98,000 km2 and is home to around 250,000 residents. Its largest city, Luleå, has a unique archipelago with over a thousand islands, and many rivers. The city is also known for its University of Technology. City of Kiruna in Norbotten is a fascinating city with historic mining community and outdoor opportunities. Kiruna is surrounded by deep forests, large marsh lands, lakes, rivers, and mountains – including Kebnekaise which is Sweden’s highest mountain.
With a population of approximately 270,000 inhabitants spread across an area of over 55,000 km2, Västerbotten is Sweden's sixth-largest county. Umeå, the region's largest city and a location of one of Sweden's largest universities, Umeå University. The region is characterized by Vindelälven river, sustainable tourism options and delicious cheese which has been named after the region – Västerbottensost.
Umeå University campus. Photo: Jacob Christensen
Finnmark
Finnmark region has approximately 75,000 residents spread across an area of over 48,000 square kilometers. Finnmark is Norway's largest county by land area. The city of Alta serves as its largest urban center, famous for its ancient rock carvings. Most eastern city of Finnmark is Kirkenes, which is the center for Barents cooperation. Also International Barents Secretariat is located in Kirkenes. Visitors are drawn to Finnmark by its spectacular fjords and vast wilderness.
Barents pride in Kirkenes in 2022. Photo: Ole-Tommy Pedersen/Barentssekretariatet
Troms
With approximately 165,000 inhabitants in the region of Troms and an area of over 25,000 square kilometers, Troms is known to have a long history of activity and exploration in the Arctic. The region has Northern Norway’s largest city Tromsø, which is a dynamic urban city with the main campus of UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Tromsø is multicultural with its growing international population, host of many arctic organizations and has picturesque views over the mountains and fjords. The region of Troms is rich in natural resources and economically stable.
Summer night in Tromsø. Photo Credit: Mark Ledingham, Tromsø kommune
Nordland
Nordland, situated below Troms in central Norway, is a region of natural beauty and cultural richness. Roughly 250,000 inhabitants live in the area of over 38,000 square kilometers. Bodø, its largest city and administrative center, known for its football team. Bodø is also the first city above the Arctic Circle to gain the title European Capital of Culture, which it is for year 2024. The economy of Nordland thrives on a variety of industries, including fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and energy production.
