ABSTRACT
The Barents Euro-Arctic Region was established by the governments of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the Commission of the European Communities at the Conference of Foreign Ministers in Kirkenes, Norway in January 1993. In the Declaration the Barents Euro-Arctic Region was defined as the land areas of the North Calotte and North-West Russia. The sea areas to the north including the Barents and Kara seas and also the Svalbard archipelago are not part of the officially designated region. The North Calotte is a region rich in history and culture and this was an area without borders or governmental control. The initiative regarding the Barents international co-operation was originally launched by the Norwegian Government. The environment and environmental protection have been important issues of the Barents regional co-operation from the beginning. The geo-strategic position of the Norwegian and Barents Seas continue to be of importance in the post Cold War period.
