Press release 13 October 2009
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Sweden takes over Chairmanship of Barents Euro-Arctic Council

At a meeting in Murmansk on 15 October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will take over the two-year Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council from his Russian colleague, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.

Cooperation in the Barents region was launched in Kirkenes in 1993 with the participation of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the European Commission. Barents cooperation takes place at two levels: intergovernmental cooperation between the member countries and cooperation between the regions concerned. The Swedish regions represented at the interregional level are Norrbotten and Västerbotten.

Mr Bildt and Mr Lavrov will give a joint press conference at 12.00-12.30 on 15 October in the Grand Meeting Hall in Murmansk.