Liberal Democrat Member of the European
Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber
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Diana Wallis Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber |
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| Statement by Diana Wallis MEP at the Ministerial Conference on the Northern Dimension and the Arctic Window in Ilulissat, Greenland, 28 August 2002 30/08/2002 |
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Firstly, I want to extend my thanks to the Danish Presidency and to our Greenland hosts for arranging this second conference on the Northern Dimension and specifically the 'Arctic Window'.
I want to use my intervention to speak from two perspectives whilst at the same time trying to address in part the Chairman's questions for discussion. Firstly that of a participant of the Standing Committee of the Arctic Parliamentarians returning from our biennial conference, held in Tromso two weeks ago and secondly as a Member of the European Parliament. If you will permit me an initial digression, some might question why a parliamentarian from Yorkshire, England, should have any concern about northern Europe, let alone the Arctic. I could point to some historical facts - such as that some of the first whalers in Spitzbergen came from my home city of Hull, a city with a strong seafaring and fishing tradition, which remains twinned with Reykjavik and with its face turned towards the North Sea. But rather I would say that at this time, when the Earth Summit in Johannesburg is underway, the North and the Arctic environment concerns all. These matters have implications for all our citizens so whilst respecting the wishes and views of the those who actually live in the North we have a mutual duty to ensure that it prospers in a sustainable way. So environmental research and sustainable development must remain a critical keystone of the Northern Dimension. That said let me turn to the work of the Arctic Council and of the Arctic Parliamentarians. The conclusions of our recent conference made it clear that there should be more joint or joined-up working between the Arctic Council and the EU. The EU does not need to reinvent the wheel and the Arctic Council would doubtless welcome the funding, co-ordination and delivery skills of the EU to help deliver some of its aspirations. Let me highlight too particular Arctic Parliamentarian projects mentioned in our conference conclusions which should be complemented by the EU's Northern Dimension. Firstly, an IT project encompassing communication and education goals that could work through or in tandem with the 'E-dimension'. Secondly, an extensive report on Human Development in the Arctic has been commissioned which could form the building block for many EU inter-regional programmes aimed at delivering commercial, social and cultural links and progress across the peoples of the North. Yes EU-Russian border issues should be highlighted but the EU has the potential to contribute so much more in the wider spectrum of east-west, people to people, contacts across the region. Then let me turn to the perspectives of an EP Parliamentarian by mentioning democracy and subsidiarity. The programme we are talking about should be created and delivered in close relationship with elected representatives at all levels. Further there are programmes like any others and should therefore have full parliamentary involvement. This is one way of promoting the efficient dialogue and co-ordination you seek chairman, through political leadership at all levels. At the Luxembourg meeting mention was made, and endorsed by many participants, of the creation of a Northern Dimension Forum in order to meet this. It should include elected representatives, stakeholders and so on, and I would expect indigenous peoples. This idea does not appear to have been taken forward. There could be thematic focus conferences to bring together all decision-makers and interested parties. I should conclude by saying that as a European Parliamentarian I am still frustrated by the lack of co-ordination - sometimes my first source of information is the Canadian Mission! I would ask that the Commission should be given the obligation to give an annual report on the Northern Dimension to the Council and to the Parliament, which in turn should then give its own annual report in response to the Commission document. So in short more co-ordination especially with Arctic Council and more democratic participation perhaps through the establishment of the Forum as envisaged in Luxembourg. |
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