Clinton: Arctic Council enters new era of ‘decision-making’

Foreign Ministers of eight countries and leaders of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic Council met in Greenland on the 12 May 2011 to set out future policy for the Council.

The Nuuk declaration and an agreement to cooperate in Search and Rescue efforts in the Arctic were signed. The Search and Rescue (SAR) agreement will strengthen cooperation between the Arctic states and improve the way Arctic countries respond to emergency calls in the region.

The SAR agreement is ground-breaking in the annals of the Arctic Council, as it is the first legally-binding agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Council.

Major studies on environment released at the same time showw that climate change is having a more profound impact on the Arctic environment than previously understood.

The Ministers also decided to strengthen the Arctic Council by establishing a secretariat to increase the ability of the Council to address future challenges in the region. The secretariat will be located in Tromsø, Norway.

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Norden: Megatrends, May 2011 http://www.norden.org/en/publications/publications/2011-527/

ESO: Background information: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - The European Union and the Arctic region http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-and-the-council-the-european-union-and-the-arctic-region/

EU: EEAS: EU Arctic Policy http://eeas.europa.eu/arctic_region/index_en.htm

Arctic Council: Homepage http://www.arctic-council.org/

Arctic Council: Nuuk Declaration Signed May 2011 http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/about/documents/category/5-declarations?download=37:nuuk-declaration-2011

EurActiv, 12.5.11: Big powers plan polar carve up as Arctic Council opens http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-environment/big-powers-plan-polar-carve-arctic-council-opens-news-504785

BBC News, 12.5.11: Arctic states meet in Greenland to discuss resources http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13378567

EUObserver, 13.5.11: EU gets cold shoulder in the Arctic http://euobserver.com/9/32331

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