Norway's Northern policy

Norway’s Northern identity will always be an important determining factor in its social, cultural and economic life, and also in its foreign policy. This is underlined by recent developments in and around the Arctic.

The global interest in the area is growing, much due to the melting of the Arctic ice cap and the consequences of this. Countering man-made climate change is the greatest challenge facing the world community today. The Arctic is where the changes are first observed and the area is becoming increasingly important as a platform for environmental and climate research. And the level of human activity is likely to increase in other fields of human activity, in particular shipping, tourism and the exploitation of natural resources, both living marine resources and petroleum.

Engaging neighbours
Norway’s answer to this development is to engage Arctic neighbours and other partners in an even broader and deeper cooperation on sustainable management of resources, preparedness, the development of common environmental, health and safety standards for human activity, and the strengthening of local communities and the rights of indigenous people. In this respect, the Arctic Council plays an increasingly important role as a policy-shaping body. Norway welcomes the active participation of observers in the work of the Arctic Council.   

In 2009, Norway received recommendations from the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding our continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the High North. As a Coastal State, Norway have important rights and responsibilities on our continental shelf. The process of establishing the outer limits of the continental shelf of States is an orderly process stipulated by international law, in which the United Nations Convention on the Law on the Sea is of particular relevance.

The Barents Euro-Arctic Region
The cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, which involves the Nordic countries, Russia and the European Commission, continues to play an important role, particularly in the development of people-to-people contacts. Whereas 20 years ago the border between Norway and Russia was practically closed, today there are more than 100.000 border crossings every year. In relations with Russia, our neighbour in the north for more than a thousand years, Norway pursues a policy of pragmatic cooperation in areas of common interest, such as fisheries, energy and the environment and a priority matter is to facilitate contacts between people, businesses and non-governmental organisations.

The High North is a region traditionally characterised by low tension. The necessary legal instruments are in place, as well as good cooperative structures. The states concerned are faced with the same challenges. Now is the time to grasp the vast opportunities for intensified cooperation and develop the region together.