Arctic policy of Finland
Arctic Policy of Finland is Finland's foreign relations with other Arctic countries, and Finland's government policies on issues occurring within the geographic boundaries of "the Arctic" or related to the Arctic or its peoples. Since Finland is itself an Arctic nation, the Arctic Policy of Finland includes its domestic policies as regards the Finnish Arctic region.
Finland was integral in the creation of the Arctic Council and remains a member. Finland has also been involved in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council since its creation in 1993.[1]
Finland's Strategy for the Arctic Region was released June 4, 2010 and concentrates on seven priorities: security, environment, economy, infrastructure, indigenous peoples, institutions and the European Union.[2]
Finland emphasizes the importance of the Arctic Council as a forum for discussion and decision making. Finland suggests strengthening the Council by installing better burden-sharing and a joint budget, establishing a permanent secretariat, expanding the normative role of the Council, enhancing interaction with non-Arctic actors and creating a Communications and Outreach Strategy for the Council. Finland also offers to host a high-level Arctic Summit to discuss the environmental concerns of natural resource exploitation, the legitimacy of different actors in the Arctic and the future of the Arctic Council.[3]
Since Finland is an EU member, (along with Sweden and Denmark) the EU Arctic Policy will play a role in the Finnish Arctic strategy. Finland supports EU admittance as a permanent observer member of the Arctic Council.[4]
In considering Finnish Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2017-18, Finland is calling for making the Arctic Council a more robust treaty-making organization and for hosting a meeting of leaders of the eight Arctic nations during their Chairmanship.[5]