Soft Law: Forms of Cooperation in the Arctic- The Barents Regional Council

Résumé du document

The Arctic area represents one of the best example of regional cooperation between States despite the main issues surrounding that part of the world. However, the Arctic defined as the northernmost ocean covered by ice of the Earth used to be a tension region during the cold war. Indeed, the United States, the URSS and other European states were interested by the strategical position of the Arctic and the abundant resources present in this territory . Nevertheless, the post-cold war era has encouraged the different international actors to go forward to a deeper regional cooperation in order to maintain a sustainable stability, strengthen the relationship between states to promote political and economic alliances without denigrate the regional identity and cultural diversity of each region.

In this context, many institutions has emerged in the Arctic area such as the Arctic council founded in 1996 composed of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States which deal with environmental, political, economical issues as a intergovernmental level. Considering the large scope of issues surrounding the Arctic area, it is undoubtedly necessary to divide the action of the States by different work groups associated to a specific field. Moreover, the cooperation in the Arctic is not only represented by the Arctic Council.

Extraits

[...] The understanding of environmental issues in the Barents region The Arctic region is considered by many experts as a serious indicator of global warming. Indeed the effect of climate change are widely observable in the Arctic Area, by the ice melt phenomenon, the extinction of endangered species located in the Arctic, rising sea levels. These phenomenons are seriously taken in consideration by the Barents Regional Council which make a point of protecting the biodiversity, the environment of the Barents Region including the coastal area, the wide forest in the north, the unique fauna and flora of this particular region. [...]

[...] In this context, many institutions has emerged in the Arctic area such as the Arctic council founded in 1996 composed of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States which deal with environmental, political, economical issues as a intergovernmental level. Considering the large scope of issues surrounding the Arctic area, it is undoubtedly necessary to divide the action of the States by different workgroups associated to a specific field. Moreover, the cooperation in the Arctic is not only represented by the Arctic Council. With a tighter scope, the Barents Council composed of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) and the Barents Regional Council (BRC) focus on the Barents Region issues. [...]

[...] I don't think it would be right to consider the Barents Regional Council only as a consultation body for the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Regional and Intergovernmental level work in a complementary manner to fulfil in the most effective way their aims : reducing and prevent environmental harm, promote the economical development, preserve the indigenous culture, encourage the cooperation in the Barents Region. [...]

[...] The regional Cooperation in the Barents Region has started at the end of the Soviet Union, under the initiative of Norway in 1993 by the Kirkenes Declaration. This cooperation has been organized on two level : The Barents Euro Arctic Council composed of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Island, Russia, and the European Commission which acts at an intergovernmental level and the Barents Regional Council which focus on the regional level including the regional governments of Finland (Kainuu, Lapland, Oulu), Norway (Finnmark, Nordland, Troms) Russia (Arkhangelsk, Karelia, komi, Murmansk, Nenets), Sweden (Norrbotten, Västerbotten) and the local indigenous Sami, Nenets, Veps[10]. [...]

[...] Soft Law: Forms of Cooperation in the Arctic- The Barents Regional Council TABLE OF CONTENTS introduction 3-5 FROM A REGION FRAUGHT WITH TENSION DURING COLD WAR TO A SOFT LAW COOPERATION AREA The barents region : a strategic area during cold war 2. The creation of the Barents regional council : a two-level soft law cooperation II/ THE REGIONAL COOPERATION IN THE BARENTS EURO ARCTIC REGION : A KEY ROLE IN UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIFIC LOCAL ISSUES The consideration of the indigenous peoples in the policy-making process 2.2 the understanding the environmental issues in the barents region Conclusion 11-12 REFERENCES 13-14 The Barents Regional Council The fact that the Arctic, more than any other populated region of the world, requires the collaboration of so many disciplines and points of view to be understood at all, is a benefit rather than a burden. [...]