H.E. Mr. Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of Norway
Barents Euro-Arctic Council, 9th Session
Umeå, Sweden, 2-3 October 2003

(Check against delivery)

Concluding remarks by incoming BEAC Chairman

Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

Once more I would like to thank Sweden for its excellent leadership of the Barents Council since 2001. I believe that in addition to the trhree E’s which have been Swedish priority areas, we need to add another letter: E for Exellence.

Norway is now assuming the chairmanship. We have a vision of the Barents Region as a prosperous and dynamic part of Europe. I believe this target is well within our reach, and look forward to work with you in achieving this ambitious goal.

The Barents co-operation has entered its second decade. It is of direct benefit to the people of the region, and is also a significant contributor to the broader aim of greater security and co-operation in Europe. Our co-operation involves some very interesting and important national policy issues, but it is also concerned with practical issues of everyday significance for the people living here. Norway intends to promote the Barents Region as a vehicle in the implementation of the new Northern Dimension Action Plan. We also wish to highlight Barents issues in a Euro-Atlantic context, especially as regards the specific challenges relating to the environment, climate change effects and nuclear safety.

Norway will give priority to the further improvement of business opportunities, the reduction of barriers to trade and investment, and business co-operation across the region. A well functioning economy is the basis of all development. One common feature of the region is its dependence on natural resources: forests, fish, minerals, energy. We should strive to find common solutions to the many challenges in this field, and in particular promote small and medium-sized enterprises, which will strengthen the economy of the region. In these endeavours we must also recognise and take into account the interests of the indigenous peoples.

We will also give priority to co-operation on education and training. Education and job prospects are a vital factor for young people when they are considering whether to stay in the region. A major issue in this connection is the mutual recognition of diplomas, which will encourage academic exchanges, job mobility and the general promotion of the region as a European centre of knowledge.

Similarly, we want to expand co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs. This includes strengthening co-operation between the police, border and immigration authorities in order to combat crime. We should build further on the initiative that has already been taken against trafficking in human beings and develop stronger co-operation networks in the field of public safety. Co-operation between the correctional services has now started and should be enhanced. We will also promote exchanges in the field of justice administration and the courts.

Another field that has moved up on the Barents agenda is rescue and emergency preparedness and response. The important work which the working group in this field is doing will be tested out on a larger scale during the planned Barents rescue exercise in September 2005 in Finnmark. Simplified procedures for border crossings are also necessary when extra personnel or equipment are needed in the event of major accidents, forest fires or other disasters. We will promote enhanced information sharing and shorter lines of communication in this field.

Health will remain a priority. Infectious diseases know no borders. The new Barents co-operation programme on health and related social issues will continue to be an important instrument for joint, co-ordinated action.

The Barents co-operation is an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic architecture. Our achievements have changed the perception of this region.

Now we must further strengthen our contact with interested organisations and parties as part of our efforts to promote co-operation in the region. I see this as an important task for the Norwegian chairmanship.

Thank you for your attention.