Parliamentary cooperation in the Arctic region
The goal of cooperation in the Arctic region is to improve the living conditions and position of indigenous peoples and others living in the region. The first Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region took place in 1993. Government-level cooperation began in 1996 with the establishment of the Arctic Council. Parliamentarians play an important role in monitoring intergovernmental cooperation and presenting initiatives.
The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region includes eight nations (the Nordic countries, Canada, Russia and the United States) as well as the European Parliament. Permanent participants include key organisations of indigenous peoples in the region: the Aleut Corporation, the Arctic Athabaskan Council, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Saami Council and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON). The observers in the Arctic Council (Britain, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Singapore and Spain) and other parliamentary organisations in the region can also take part in activities.
The Speaker's Council appoints the Finnish delegation to the Conference of Parliamentarians for each electoral term. The delegation has six members and a secretariat in Parliament's International Department.