Yorkshire Euro-MP Speaks at Arctic Conference

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Aug 2000

Diana Wallis MEP represented the European Parliament at the 4th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, which took place in Rovaniemi, Finland on 27-29 August 2000.

Representatives from the national parliaments of all the Arctic States (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA) as well as representatives from other European Parliaments, attended. The Conference focused on the work of the Arctic Council, capacity building in the Arctic (educational issues, youth programmes, information technology), and financing sustainable development.

"The European Parliament's involvement in the Arctic Conference provides the EU with an additional transatlantic link and useful circumpolar relationships," said Diana Wallis MEP.

"More formal structures for cooperation in the Arctic might be needed in order to strengthen the legitimacy and accountability of the Arctic Council as the 'voice of the Arctic' and to avoid a democratic deficit."

In her speech, Diana continued:

"This Arctic Council body has achieved much by flexible and open structures, but perhaps something more is needed.

"It is clear that we live increasingly in an age of plurality of governance - the EU is an example of that - and of the benefits of drawing a wider grouping to attach global problems with local significance."