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The High North

The High North will be Norway’s most important strategic priority area in the years ahead. Norway’s High North policy is intended to protect the environment, maintain settlement patterns and promote business development. The Government will further develop cooperation with Russia and our other partners in the north.

The seas north of the Norwegian mainland contain considerable fossil fuel and renewable fisheries resources. They have enormous economic potential which, if managed properly, will have great significance, both for the region and for the rest of the world. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is heading the effort to formulate, coordinate and implement the Government’s High North policy.

Watch vidoe on Norways High North Policy

Foreign Minister Støre on the Arctic and Norway’s High North Policy - video

The Norwegian Government launched its High North Policy in November 2011. Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre talks about Norway’s views on challenges and opportunities in the Arctic.

The High North - Visions and strategies

In the white paper, The High North, Vision and policy instruments, the Government presents a coherent, long-term Norwegian policy for dealing with the challenges and opportunities we are facing in the High North. This edited short version provides an overview of the main points discussed in the white paper.

Ambitious goals for the High North

“In the white paper on the High North, the Government sets out ambitious goals for Norway’s efforts in the High North over the next 20–30 years. The main focus of the white paper is on foreign policy, but emphasis is also placed on how the High North policy is to promote employment and value creation across the country as a whole,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Photo: M.Kopstad, MFA, Oslo

The treaty on maritime delimitation between Norway and Russia

On 15 September 2010, Norway and Russia signed the Treaty concerning Maritime Delimitation and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It was signed in Murmansk by Foreign Ministers Jonas Gahr Støre and Sergei Lavrov in the presence of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and President Dmitry Medvedev.

Svalbard and the surrounding maritime areas

Svalbard and the Surrounding Maritime Areas

This is a brief introduction to the legal issues concerning the maritime areas around the archipelago of Svalbard.

Illustration: Global Crop Diversity Trust

Svalbard Global Seed Vault

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, is established in the permafrost in the mountains of Svalbard. It is designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections around the globe. If seeds are lost, e.g. as a result of natural disasters, war or simply a lack of resources, the seed collections may be reestablished using seeds from Svalbard.

Latest articles on the High North from the ministries

National statement by Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide

[15.05.2013]

"The great interest that that non-Arctic states are taking in the coming observership is a tribute to the good work we have done together. I think it is very important to welcome the new observers and to appreciate their interest to working with us on the basis of the principles that we have agreed to”, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said at the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Kiruna, 15 May.

Arctic Council welcomes new observers

[15.05.2013]

“I am pleased that six new countries and the EU have been granted observer status in the Arctic Council. This confirms the Arctic Council’s key position as an international forum for discussing Arctic issues,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, who is taking part in the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting.

Accreditation for the Barents Summit in Kirkenes 3–4 June 2013

[13.05.2013]

The first 20 years of the Barents cooperation will be marked with a meeting of prime ministers in Kirkenes from 3 to 4 June. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will host the meeting. The deadline for accreditation is 27 May.

Successful NATO visit to North Norway

[10.05.2013]

The Arctic was the focus of attention when NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the North Atlantic Council visited North Norway on 6–7 May.

Future strategic priorities for the Barents cooperation

[24.04.2013]

- I am very pleased to be back in Harstad – and to be able to celebrate 20 years of successful cooperation in the Barents region with you, said State Secretary Torgeir Larsen in his speech at the 6th Barents parlamentary conference in Harstad.

The Barents Parliamentary Conference

[23.04.2013]

"The overall results have far exceeded our expectations. The Barents Cooperation has been important not just for Norway, not just for the Barents Region. It has been important for Europe – it has served as an example of successful post cold war cooperation across old dividing lines", State Secretary Torgeir Larsen said in his speech at The Barents Parliamentary Conference in Harstad, Norway, 23 April 2013.

The changing global energy map

[21.03.2013]

“ There will be winners and losers - in geopolitical terms – of a fast-changing energy landscape. This means that some countries will have more policy space and while other countries will have less policy space”, said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at the Nordic Energy Summit in Oslo on 21 March 2013..

The Arctic - Norwegian Perspectives

[20.03.2013]

“We will continue the constructive cooperation on Arctic issues with the EU and welcome EU’s increased engagement. We share the commitment for sustainable development, regional cooperation and engaging with Russia”, said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in his speech at the Political and Security Committee in the EU on 20 March 2013 in Brussels.

Grant scheme for studies in the High North extended

[20.02.2013]

“I am pleased that we have now extended the grant scheme for studies in the High North to include students from Japan and South Korea in the 2013–16 period,” commented Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Students from Canada, Russia and the US have been included from before.

Ministerial meeting of the Northern Dimension

[18.02.2013]

- The Northern Dimension has unique features that compliment the other regional structures in the North. Result-oriented partnerships are the backbone of the Northern Dimension. Projects under the partnerships are of great importance for people living in the Northern Dimension area, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Eide at the ministerial meeting.

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