Joint Statement of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the European Union regarding Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation
Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the European Union have condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine.
The Barents Euro-Arctic Council is built upon the Kirkenes Declaration of 1993, which states that “cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region will contribute substantially to stability, progress, international peace and security in the area and in Europe as a whole, where partnership is now replacing the confrontation and division of the past”. In 2013, the Heads of Government met in Kirkenes, and declared that they “saw the Barents cooperation as part of the process of evolving European cooperation and integration”. The unique structure of Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation encompasses national and regional authorities as well as indigenous peoples and youth, covering a wide range of sectors.
In light of Russia’s blatant violation of international law, breach of rules-based multilateralism and the principles and objectives of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the European Union have no other choice than to suspend activities involving Russia in the Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation. We remain convinced of the enduring value of Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation, and reiterate our support for this institution and its work.
Joint Statement of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the European Union regarding Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation
Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the situation around the Northern Dimension and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC)
On March 8, Russia’s “partners” in the Northern Dimension (the European Union, Iceland and Norway), followed by BEAC members (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden) and the EU on March 9, came forward with unsubstantiated accusations against Russia, announcing Russia’s suspension from these two formats.
These clearly unfriendly steps run contrary to the fundamental principles of the Northern Dimension and BEAC operations, which are based on consensus and have not been affected by the political situation until recently. Refusal to cooperate within these formats may undermine the stability, trust and neighbourly relations in Northern Europe, with the contacts between people that took decades to build potentially winding down.
Blinded by the anti-Russia hysteria, the collective West is striking at the interests of people living in the northern regions, without much consideration for how these measures will affect their everyday lives. The established connections, beneficial projects and initiatives that have successfully served the steady socioeconomic development of the European North are collapsing in their entirety.
We will continue to closely monitor the developments in the Northern Dimension and BEAC and will also assess their legal standing. But even now, it is clear that without Russia, the existence of these bodies loses meaning. They are essentially becoming “private clubs” tending to the interests of the European Union.
We expect that the online resources of the Northern Dimension and BEAC will not become tools of information war. Publishing anti-Russian content on these websites is unacceptable.
We hope that practical cooperation in the North in the interests of its residents will be resumed sooner or later.
Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the situation around the Northern Dimension and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC)
