The High North – Norwegian Perspectives

The Minister based his remarks on the following points
(check against delivery).

Lysark 1: Tittelside

• Introduction. Fridtjof Nansen’s 150th  anniversary. His last words “Further and further to the north ...” (“Lenger og lenger mot nord...”), May 1930. Today we are looking north.
• Thank you: DNV and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association for organising the seminar. Brings together key partners in the High North. I have just had very useful talks this morning with EU Commissioner Maria Damanaki. Norway and Greece: two coastal states, strong shipping traditions, fisheries, a lot in common, familiar issues and concerns.  The UN Law of the Sea is as important for Greece as it is for Norway. What it means to be a coastal state.
• Would also like to say that I greatly appreciate the Commissioner’s efforts to reform the EU’s fisheries policies, especially her efforts to ban fish discards. Because: marine and maritime issues are key in the development of our High North policies. And our aim is sustainable, sensible management of these resources. Norway has also worked successfully with the EU to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Strong cod stock. Eliminated a major problem. Good management. The EU is close to us: it is made up of our neighbouring countries, our allies.
• We have studied the Commissioner’s address at the Arctic Forum in Brussels recently. The EU is an important partner in the context of future developments in the High North. The meeting this morning: confirmed that the EU wishes to be a partner, we talked about permanent observer status in the Arctic Council, the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the rights and responsibilities of coastal states in the Arctic. An issue of respect for sovereignty, the Arctic states. No desire and no need to build new institutions or new structures. 

Lysark 2: Oversikt over norske sjøområder 

• When it comes to maritime boundaries, Norway is not a small country. These boundaries make us a lot “larger”, and make the maritime sector – and you – very important partners for us in the future.
• A lot of complementarities between the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association’s High North strategy and the Government’s. Therefore: joint opportunities.
• Must work together to meet common challenges – brought about by increased activity in a vulnerable environment.
• The DNV-led project “Harmonisation of HSE standards for the Barents Sea”, supported by the Foreign Ministry, a good example here. Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen (DNV) will talk more about this after my remarks.  

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• The High North: the Norwegian Government’s number one foreign policy priority.
• But we are not alone. Example: Last week I travelled with my Swedish colleague Carl Bildt from Narvik to Kiruna, for the meeting in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.  
• Now, fascinating to listen to Commissioner Damanaki’s presentation. The Commission’s Communication on the Arctic illustrates the increasing geopolitical attention given to the High North. Is a constructive contribution to the development of an Arctic policy for the EU.
• The EU is an important actor in many High North related areas, not least in the Commissioner’s core areas: fisheries and maritime policy.
• Some differences in certain areas. But we agree on the main premises: The Law of the Sea as the legal framework, the sovereign rights of the Arctic states, the need for more research, monitoring and surveillance, and the need for close cooperation.
• There is close cooperation with various EU institutions and with some EU countries. We would like to increase cooperation, not least within research and development.
• We are seeing increasing interest from countries further afield – China, Japan, Korea, India.
• Three key drivers to explain this: climate change, resources, our relations with Russia.
• Still, I sometimes hear that the developments in the High North are taking place in “a political and legal vacuum”? This is not the case. 

Lysark 3: Bilde fra Nuuk-møtet, mai 2011. 

• We have political structures, political tools (illustrated by this “family photo”, Nuuk, May 2011, Clinton, Lavrov, Bildt, etc.):
• The Arctic Council: circumpolar political cooperation – increased importance. Nuuk, May 2011: consolidation and updating.  Permanent secretariat in Tromsø. First legally binding agreement on search & rescue. Agreement on criteria for accepting new observers. Hope to see the EU and other applicants accepted as new observers at the next council meeting in 2013.
• Priority ahead: international instrument on Arctic marine oil pollution preparedness and response. The new Task Force is actually meeting in Oslo today to agree on the scope of this instrument.
• Other forums: The Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Baltic Sea Cooperation, the Northern Dimension and, of course, the Nordic Council and the web of Nordic networks. Priority: minerals. 

And we have legal structures:

• Broad international agreement that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the legal framework for the Arctic. And no-one can be “outside” UNCLOS.
• The development of the Polar Code through the IMO a key priority. Both the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and EU countries close partners here.
• Hence, in a good position to address the challenges and opportunities ahead. I mentioned the three key drivers: 

Lysark 4: Nye sjøruter over polhavet (kart).

• Key driver 1: Climate change: science is clear on this: the polar ice is melting at an alarming rate. Also: opening new transportation routes: destination transport, support services for the petroleum industry, transpolar routes. (As the NSA’s Sturla Henriksen mentioned).
• Prospects still uncertain. But in the last two years a marked change: September 2010 the first time that the Northern Sea Route was totally ice free. This year: about 14 sailings.
• The global climate negotiations. Copenhagen – Durban. Status. 

Lysark 5: Kart over energiressurser i Arktis

• Key driver 2: Natural resources: melting ice makes natural resources more accessible: fisheries, petroleum (and minerals).
• Common denominator: the need for transportation to the markets. Increases the importance of the maritime industry. Opens up commercial opportunities. Challenging conditions can be a competitive advantage. Asia is looking north.
• Also increases the need for better surveillance, search and rescue services. These have high priority in our High North strategy. BarentsWatch an important tool. 

Lysark 6: Delelinjen

• Finally: Key driver 3: Russia. By far the largest Arctic state – 50% of the coastline, at least 50% of the resources.
• Norway’s bilateral relations with Russia: peace for over 1000 years. Maritime delimitation treaty a landmark. Established legal clarity for exploitation of natural resources. Demonstrates that the peaceful resolution of overlapping claims is possible.
• Treaty also a landmark for petroleum exploration. Potential to create employment and new industries, also within the maritime supply sector.
• Seismic surveys started west of the delimitation line. Cooperation on transboundary hydrocarbon deposits, an annex to the treaty. Followed up in the energy dialogue with Russia (OED).

In conclusion:

• New developments require new knowledge. At the heart of the Government’s High North strategy – investment in research, building platforms for international cooperation, knowledge sharing between government, industry and academia, nationally and internationally.
• The white paper on the Government’s High North policy this autumn puts knowledge, and arenas for knowledge sharing, at the heart of future developments.
• The Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Therefore grateful to DNV and NSA for providing a platform like this at this seminar. Looking forward to continued constructive cooperation, with you, with the EU, and with other partners in the High North.