This chapter describes and analyses inter-regional cooperation in the European Arctic. It provides a contextual background describing the major characteristics that led to the establishment of the Barents cooperation. While the Barents cooperation certainly faces a number of challenges, it remains important framework to enhance human security among its civil societies and to strengthen the societal bonds of its peoples. Indeed, Barents Region is a society with shared human security concerns. From a geographic perspective, the Barents Region constitutes parts of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions which share a number of physical features. The Barents Region is a home to 5.23 million people, the Finns, Norwegians, Russians, Swedes and a number of indigenous people groups. The history of European Arctic, today the Barents Region, is that of colonisation, state expansion and cooperation. The mandate of the Arctic Council focuses essentially on increasing cooperation in the domain of environmental protection and sustainable development, leaving military issues aside as too sensitive issues.