The Barents Cooperation is a formalized collaboration primarily between Russia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden – designed to promote stability and sustainable development in a region that was characterized by military tension during the Cold War. The cooperation was established through the Kirkenes Declaration in 1993, stemming from a top-political process led by the MFA’s in Norway and Russia – and a regional process with initiatives for business and cultural cooperation between northern counties in the two states. These two levels structure the cooperation. The Barents Euro-Arctic Council is the format for intergovernmental cooperation – which also includes Denmark, Iceland, and the EU as members. Nine countries have observer status. An international Barents Secretariat, established in Kirkenes in 2008, provides administrative assistance. The Barents Regional Council gathers 13 regional units in the four ‘core countries’ and representatives from the three indigenous peoples in the region – the Sàmi, Nenets, and Veps. There are several working groups under the council bodies, i.a. for health and social issues, environment, education and research, culture, indigenous affairs, and business. The Norwegian Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes has since 1993 supported Norwegian-Russian collaborations in the region through funding, sharing of knowledge, and networking.
In March of 2022, all activities with public Russia within the Barents cooperation were suspended. The people-to-people cooperation with independent Russian actors remains. On the 1st of February, the Norwegian Barents Secretariat closes its three local offices in Russia.
Read more on Barents-council.org
