Press release on the 16th ministerial session of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
On October 18−19, the 16th ministerial session of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC), chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, took place in Arkhangelsk, ending Russia's 2015-2017 BEAC chairmanship.
The participants discussed matters of crucial significance for the Barents region, which have been the priorities of Russia's chairmanship, namely, improving transport and logistics infrastructure, protecting the environment and fighting climate change, promoting cultural cooperation and tourism, developing the forest sector, protecting the rights of the indigenous peoples, as well as trans-border economic ties, healthcare, scientific and youth exchanges and joint response to emergencies.
In the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the Barents process next year, Russia, as BEAC Chair, proposed establishing a high-level regional forum, a so-called “Barents Davos” to tackle the entire regional agenda with an emphasis on sustainable socio-economic and environmental development.
The Joint Declaration passed at the session reflects practical solutions designed to give the Barents Cooperation a further boost. In addition, a BEAC youth forum was proposed.
Mr Lavrov also attended the first Barents Grant awards ceremony. The Barents Grant for cultural cooperation was instituted at a meeting of relevant ministers of the BEAC member states in Moscow in November 2016. In Russia, the grant was awarded to the Ethno-Cultural Initiatives Support and Development Fund (Republic of Karelia).
The two-year BEAC chairmanship was transferred from Russia to Sweden.