The Barents Parliamentary Conference
Parliamentary Barents cooperation has the purpose of highlighting and promoting issues of common interest to countries and regions in the Barents region. This includes northern Finland, northern Sweden, northern Norway and north-western Russia.
Barents cooperation was initiated in 1993 and is based on the Kirkenes Declaration. The purpose was to secure peace, stability and progress in the region. On the governmental side, cooperation is led by the foreign ministers in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC). Cooperation also takes place between the regions in the Barents area, and is led by the Barents Regional Committee (BRC).
Website of Barents Parliamentary Cooperation
Parliamentary conference every other year
The parliamentary cooperation has the nature of a network and therefore has no statutes or permanent bodies. Examples of recurring topics are the environment, climate, infrastructure, international contacts, the conditions of indigenous peoples, innovations and economic development in the region.
Every other year a Barents Parliamentary Conference is held, during which parliamentarians, representatives of counties and regions in the Barents region participate. Indigenous peoples’ organisations and other relevant organisations are also represented.
The Swedish delegation
Five members of the Riksdag normally participate in the conferences. Ahead of each conference, the party groups nominate members, after which the Speaker determines the composition of the delegations. During the conference, a non-binding resolution is adopted, with political recommendations to the governments in the region. Each year, the delegation gives an account of its activities as part of the Nordic Council's annual report. The report is considered by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and a debate is held in the Chamber.