More EU sauna talks in Arctic Finland
At least 12 foreign ministers from EU countries will in the period 18-20 March meet in Saariselkä, Arctic Finland, for talks.
The meeting in the popular Finnish skiing resort will be the second in two years. At the same time last year, Finland’s Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb successfully assembled eight foreign ministers in the village located in Finnish Lapland, not far from the border to Russia and Norway.
Stubb already after last year’s meeting said that he intended to make the meetings an annual tradition. This year, at least 12 minister will attend, Yle reports.
Read also:Eight foreign ministers to Finnish Lapland
Last year, the main topic for the discussions was the role of the European Union in world politics and the EU neighborhood policy. That is likely to be main points on the agenda also this year. In addition, the ministers will inevitably have to discuss also the EU’s role in the Arctic. The European Union is in the process of elaborating an Arctic Policy. As part of the process, the European Parliament recently adopted a Report on the on a sustainable EU policy for the High North.
It is not clear whether Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will attend the meeting. Last year, the foreign minister of non-member Norway, was reportedly invited to the event, but was unable to attend.
Read also:Støre not present in sauna talks
