9th Conference of Artic Parliamentarians
13 - 15 September 2010
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (CPAR) is a parliamentary body comprising delegations appointed by the national parliaments of the Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, U.S.A.) and the European Parliament. The conference also includes Permanent Participants representing Indigenous peoples, as well as observers. The conference meets every two years, and the ninth Conference is organised in the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium on September 13-15, 2010.
Between conferences the Arctic parliamentary cooperation is carried on by a Standing Committee, which started its activities in 1994. The Conference and Standing Committee take initiatives to further Arctic cooperation, and act, in particular, as a parliamentary forum for issues relevant to the work of the Arctic Council. The Standing Committee takes part in the work of the Council as an observer.
Themes of the conference
The Conference in Brussels will focus on the following major themes:
- Sustainable management of living resources in the Arctic
- Cooperation in education and research - the legacy of IPY
- The melting ice – consequences
The conference is attended by representatives from the national parliaments of the Arctic states and the European Parliament. Observers also participate from governments and inter-parliamentary organizations as well as from observer states and relevant international organizations.
Monday 13 September
Opening of the Conference & Welcome Speeches
- Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament (video-recorded message)
- Ms Diana Wallis, Vice-President of the European Parliament
- Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, Chair of Delegation, European Parliament
- Ms Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
- Ms Lene Espersen, Chair of the Arctic Council, Danish Foreign Minister
- Mr Hannes Manninen, Chair of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region
THEME 1: Sustainable management of living resources in the Arctic
- Mr Karl Falkenberg, Director-General, DG Environment, European Commission
- Mr Erik Lahnstein, State Secretary to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Special Reports
- Ms Sofia Rossen, MP, Denmark/Greenland: "Sustainable use of living resources in the Arctic"
Tuesday 14 September
THEME 2: Cooperation in education and research - the legacy of IPY
- Mr Robert-Jan Smits, Director-General, DG Research, European Commission
- Mr Lars Kullerud, President of the University of the Arctic
- Dr. Joan Nymand Larsen, Senior Scientist, Stefansson Arctic Institute
Special Reports
- Mr Morten Høglund, MP, Norway: "Arctic cooperation in education and research – follow-up of the International Polar Year"
Wednesday 15 September
THEME 3: The melting ice – consequences
- Ms Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director, European Environment Agency
- Mr Per Sønderstrup, Head of Centre for Maritime Regulation, Danish Maritime Authority
- Mr Henrik Falck, Project Manager - Eastern Europe, Tschudi Shipping Company, Norway
- Adoption of the Conference Statement
Special Reports
- Mr Igor Chernyshenko, MP, State Duma, Russia: "Consequences of the melting ice"
The first Parliamentary Conference concerning Arctic cooperation was held in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1993. The following Arctic parliamentary conferences have been held in Yellowknife, Canada; Salekhard, Russia, Rovaniemi, Finland, Tromsø, Norway, Nuuk, Greenland, Kiruna, Sweden and Fairbanks, the USA. The next conference will be held in the European Parliament in 2010.
The Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, which is responsible for the work between conferences, started its activities in September 1994.
One of the main priorities of the Standing Committee was originally to support the establishment of the Arctic Council. The new organization, representing the eight Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA) and the European Parliament was founded on 19 September 1996. Since then the Committee has worked actively to promote the work of the Council. The Committee participates in the meetings of the Arctic Council as an observer.
Download and links
- The 9th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region adopted unanimously on 15 September 2010 the following statement
- List of Participants
- Full Programme
- Draft Conference Statement (en, ru)
- Arctic Council ministerial declaration
- EP Resolution on Arctic issues
- European Commission Communication "The EU and the Arctic Region"
- EU Council Conclusions on the Arctic issues
- CPAR Rules of Procedure
- MEPs and MPs debate retreating ice, governance needs and seal product import ban
- Pictures of the 9th CPAR on 13 September 2010 (20 MB)
- Pictures of the 9th CPAR on 14 September 2010 (13 MB)
- Pictures of the 9th CPAR on 15 September 2010 (9 MB)
