Barents cooperation
The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) was established by signing the Kirkenes Declaration in 1993. The Council members are the Nordic countries, Russia and the European Commission. The BEAC meets at the Foreign Minister level every second year. Between the BEAC meetings the cooperation is coordinated by the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO).
Regional representatives together with a representative from the indigenous peoples have signed the cooperation protocol that established the Regional Council for the Barents Euro-Arctic Region. The members of the Regional Council are 13 counties or their equivalents from the northern regions of the BEAC member countries. These are Oulu Region, Lapland and Kainuu from Finland, Finnmark, Nordland and Troms from Norway and Norrbotten and Västerbotten from Sweden. The regional members from Russia are Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Karelia, Komi and Nenets.
The Barents Regional Council meets twice a year. Between meetings the activities are coordinated by the Regional Committee. The Council of Oulu Region acts as a Chair of the Regional Council and the Regional Committee from November 2007 till the end of 2009.
The Barents Regional Council
- Chairman of the Regional Council, Second Vice-Chairman of the Assembly Mr. Pauli Saapunki
- Substitute: Chairwoman of the Assembly Ms. Tytti Tuppurainen
The Barents Regional Committee
- Chairman of the Regional Committee, Manager of International Affairs Mr. Kari Aalto
- Substitute: Executive Director Mr. Pauli Harju
The Barents Regional Council Secretariat
- Barents Coordinator Mr. Roman Gokkoev
The Barents Regional Working Group on Communications/STBR
- Planning Director Mr. Tuomo Palokangas
The Barents Regional Working Group on Environment
- Manager of Land Use and Planning Ms. Eija Salmi
The Barents Regional Working Group on Investments and Economic Cooperation
- Development Director Mr. Ilkka Yliniemi
The Barents Joint Working Group on Culture
- Director of Cultural Affairs Mr. Tuure Holopainen
Euregio Karelia
- First Vice-Chairman of the Board Mr. Mikko Raudaskoski
- Substitute: First Vice-Chairman of the Assembly Mr. Esko Kurvinen
- Development Director Mr. Ilkka Yliniemi
The Barents cooperation is supported by the national secretariats. The Finnish Barents Secretariat was established in the beginning of 2007 to operate in Rovaniemi by the Regional Council of Lapland. The contact person of the secretariat is Project Manager Ms. Päivi Kuvaja. Also Norway has its own Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes being operated since 1993. In addition to national secretariats an International Barents Secretariat (IBS) started its operation in the beginning of 2008 in Kirkenes, Norway. The Head of the IBS is Ambassador Alexander Ignatiev from Russia. The Executive Officer of the IBS is Ms. Anna Lund from Sweden. Mr. Tor Morten Bakken has been appointed as an accountant/secretary at the IBS. Staff members may be seconded from other countries at own expense.
The Finnish Barents Secretariat
The Norwegian Barents secretariat
The International Barents Secretariat
The Barents portal
The Barents 2010 Project
Oulu-Barents publication (in English / in Russian)
Additional information, please contact:
Mr. Kari Aalto, Manager, International Affairs
Tel. +358 8 3214 053, mobile +358 40 773 8888, telefax +358 8 3214 013 tai or using e-mail
(Our e-mail address is like: firstname.surname@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi)