The Foreign Ministry in Moscow blames all the other members of the Barents cooperation for the current conditions.
“Under the current conditions, we are forced to announce the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation (BEAC),” the ministry writes in a press-release.
It is Finland that currently holds the chair of the cooperation for the current 2-year period. The Chair rotates bi-annually between Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Under normal circumstances, Finland should hand over the leadership to Russia this fall.
That will not happen.
“The Finnish presidency did not confirm its readiness to transfer leadership of BEAC to Russia in October 2023, in violation of the principle of rotation,” the ministry writes and adds that this is “disrupting the necessary preparatory measures.”
Established in 1993, in times of hope and openness, the Barents cooperation facilitated cross-border contacts between the northernmost regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway with northwest Russia.
The Nordic countries suspended their cooperation with Russia shortly after the full-scale invasion in February last year.
Established in 1993, in times of hope and openness, the Barents cooperation facilitated cross-border contacts between the northernmost regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway with northwest Russia.
The Nordic countries suspended their cooperation with Russia shortly after the full-scale invasion in February last year. Läs artikel