CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE ARCTIC REGION
THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE
ARCTIC REGION
MEETING IN WASHINGTON
10 March 2015 at 9.30 am
Venue: Library of Congress,
Member’s Room – Thomas Jefferson Building
Draft minutes
DRAFT ANNOTATED AGENDA, CHAIR
1.ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND THE PROPOSED ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS
The Chair informed the Committee that Senator King would not be able to
attend the meeting. Two items were added to the agenda – possible participation
at the “Arctic Energy Summit” 28-30 September 2015 and a draft letter from the
members of SCPAR to Minister Aglukkaq and Secretary Kerry as current and
incoming Chair of the Arctic Council.
Decision:
The Committee adopted the agenda and the proposed order of agenda items
for the SCPAR meeting with adjustments presented by the Chair.
2.APPROVAL OF DRAFT MINUTES FROM THE SCPAR-MEETING IN HELSINKI 20 NOVEMBER
2014
Decision:
The Committee approved the minutes from the SCPAR-meeting in Helsinki, 20
November 2014.
3.PREPARATIONS FOR THE US CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL
Admiral Robert Papp – Special Representative for the Arctic, US State
Department, introduced the members of the Committee to the draft program for
the US Chairmanship.
Adm. Papp
noted that the Chairmanship of Arctic Council is not a unilateral program and
that they have talked and travelled to get feedback from the Arctic countries
and interest groups. The contact with Alaska has been especially important with
several listening sessions. The current draft balances the need of
safety/security and environment in a good way. The revised program received
good feedback at the SAO-meeting in Whitehorse the previous week, and almost
all proposals were accepted.
Mr. Papp expressed support in the Arctic Economic Council as a tool
to achieve sustainable development of the Arctic. He went on to underline the
importance to have the lines open in the Arctic and continue to include all
countries in the cooperation.
The US Arctic Chairmanship program will increase the Arctic public
diplomacy and elevate the interest of Arctic in the US, including by bringing
people to Alaska.
Finally Adm. Papp noted that there are different Arctics in many ways –
North America – Nordic - and Russia somewhere in between.
On questions from the Committee Adm. Papp noted that the initiative to establish and
connect Marine Protected Areas in the Arctic is a follow-up from the Oceans
Conference in Washington last year. A Regional Seas Program, binding or not
binding agreements to protect new areas, did not reach a consensus at the SAO
meeting in Whitehorse last week. This is a controversial topic in Alaska.
On another question Adm. Papp noted that the Arctic Economic Council is a
business to business cooperation with no state interest. The US has
representatives from Alaska appointed by a business association.
Papp also informed the Committee that mental wellness – including suicide
prevention – is a part of the chairmanship program.
With regards to the issuing of visa for travelling and participating in
the Arctic meetings, Adm. Papp noted that the relations are not normal right
now, but that he would look into the question and make it work within the
restrictions made by the states.
Adm. Papp is in favor of the US ratifying UNCLOS and raised the issue if
Alaska could ratify it.
To strengthen the Arctic Council Adm. Papp wants to strengthen the Arctic
Council secretariat and look into the structure of the Working Groups under the
Arctic Council.
As for the number of observers to the Arctic Council he raised the issue
if there should be a rotation between the observers for having observer status
– like 6 years in and 6 years out.
Adm. Papp went on the underline the importance of implementing the
agreements between the Arctic states. There will be a table top SAR exercise
this fall and hopefully a full Arctic SAR exercise next year. Also the oil
spill agreement needs exercises.
The US will initiate an assessment on telecommunication in the Arctic,
continue to address adaptation to climate change in the Arctic, and reduction
of emissions of black carbon and methane.
The Arctic coastal nations have negotiations of an agreement on fisheries
in the High Seas of the Arctic Ocean.
As for research in the Arctic the US will address this, including by
looking at how we share information on research and how to include observers.
Finally Adm. Papp noted that there is political will to have an Arctic
Council side-event during the COP 21 in Paris in December and that they are
looking into how to address this.
Decision:
The Committee took note of the information.
4.ALASKA PERSPECTIVE ON THE US CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ARCTIC COUNCIL
Mr. Craig Fleener, senior advisor to the Governor of Alaska on Arctic
Policy, informed the members of the Committee about the situation and Alaska
and the expectations for the US Chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
Alaska supports the work in the Arctic Council to foster economic
development in the Arctic. Mr. Fleener informed about frictions between
Alaska and the federal level concerning the use of land in Alaska to further
develop the resource potential in Alaska. Around 67% of the land in Alaska is
federally owned. Mr. Fleener proposed to establish an innovation fund to
improve economic development in Alaska.
Reducing energy costs is most pressing topic in Alaska as the high cost
of energy limits all development. This must also be addressed through promoting
energy efficiency and more renewable energy. There is little infrastructure in
Alaska, very few roads and no railway.
Food security is a vital issue since the fishery collapsing in some parts
of the state where many live on subsistence resources.
Arctic research is another area where we need to cooperate better in the
Arctic through increased coordination and cooperation when doing research, and
by making the results more easily accessible.
Finally Mr. Fleener addressed the need of improving the funding for
the participation of the Permanent Participant in the work of the Arctic
Council.
On questions from the Committee Mr. Fleener noted that the best way to keep
educated people in their societies is to create job opportunities. He also saw
good things in having indigenous peoples working in various positions across
the state, for the employer and the society.
Members of the Committee pointed to the importance of food security,
reduce the cost of energy and the general cost of living. One possibility may
be localizing the economy in a stronger way. There were also where experience
of increased local poverty when developing mines in the north.
Mr. Fleener also pointed to the importance of finding a way to let
the small communities continue to be small communities with a subsistence
lifestyle.
The importance of telecommunication was also raised by the members of the
Committee as a tool to create new jobs in rural areas.
On a question from the Committee Mr. Fleener noted that Alaskans are
similar to all other people, they want to take care of themselves and their
families, and make use of the opportunities in their communities without
interference from the government.
Finally Mr. Fleener noted that Alaska is open for business and work
to attract foreign investors. The cost of energy is an obstacle in refining
some of the products in the state to generate more jobs and value from the
natural resources such as fish and oil.
Decision:
The Committee took note of the information.
5.THE ROLE OF THE US IN THE ARCTIC COUNCIL
Mr. Alfredo Gomez, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Ms.
Susan Fleming, Director, Physical Infrastructure and Mr. Michael Hix,
Assistant Director, Natural Resources and Environment presented the findings in
the report from the US Governmental Accountability Office looking into how the
US organizes its work in the Arctic Council with recommendations for
improvements.
The main finding is that there is a need for better coordination and
specific resources allocated to follow-up the recommendations from the Arctic
Council.
The volume and amount of work of the Arctic Council is increasing with a
large number of projects with final recommendations which are too may not
specific enough.
The findings in the multilateral audit will be presented in April 2015.
The main conclusion is that the Arctic Council has contributed to improved
international cooperation in the Arctic, but needs to look at how to organize
and coordinate its work.
GAO also presented its report on Maritime Infrastructure in the Arctic
and noted that there is a deficit of infrastructure in areas such as deep water
ports, mapping and charting, icebreaker capacity.
GAO foresees limited increase in maritime activity over the next 10
years.
On a final note GAO concluded that separate funding for infrastructure
and Arctic cooperation will be needed to increase the effective implementation
of the Arctic Council recommendations.
Decision:
The Committee took note of the information.
6.STATUS OF THE WORK OF SCPAR
The Nordic Council representative informed the Committee that the spring session is moved
from Brussels to Copenhagen.
The representative from the West-Nordic Council reported from the
recent meeting in Aasiat, Greenland where a Working Group was established to
further look into the possibilities of a free trade agreement between the
West-Nordic countries.
The West-Nordic Council will celebrate a 30 years anniversary at its
annual meeting in August 2015.
The representative from Sweden informed the Committee about the
political situation in Sweden after the election in September 2014. An
agreement has been reached between most parties in the parliament which makes
it possible to govern with a minority government. They will aim broad
agreements in parliament. A new commission on energy has been established.
The representatives from Canada updated the Committee on the work
of the Arctic Council Chairmanship and with the Ministerial Meeting the 24
April 2015 in Iqalluit. The Arctic Economic Council is established and three
thematic networks have started. Canada is like to have an election within the
next six months. In the Northwest Territories work on solar energy is making
progress.
The representative from Denmark/Greenland informed about the
political situation in Greenland after the election 28 November 2014.
A coalition government with Siumut as the big party has been established.
The economy in Greenland is under considerable pressure and reforms are needed.
The representative of the European Parliament said that the
Commission and the External Services are working on a new Arctic communication
expected to be presented by the end of the year.
The representative from Denmark/Faroe Islands informed about the
conflicts regarding fisheries as a result of changing swimming patterns for the
fish stocks, and the need for better agreements in this field. The Faroe
Islands are also continuing to export fish to Russia and does not follow the
restrictive regime from the EU, as they look at this as business not politics.
The representative from Norway informed about difficult times for
the Coal Company in Svalbard as result of low prices of coal. The mining will
continue but with a reduced number of employees. The Norwegian government will
present a Whitepaper on the Antarctic before the summer. As chair of SCPAR the
Norwegian representative has made speeches at a seminar in Paris about Arctic
parliamentary cooperation, about indigenous peoples in the Arctic cooperation
in in Alta, Norway and during the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø.
The representative from Iceland informed about the upcoming
Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum 10-11 May 2015 and the following meeting
of SCPAR the 12th.
The representative from the USA informed about the establishment
of an Arctic Caucus in the US Senate with Senators Murkowski and King taking
the initiative. The caucus will highlight why the Arctic is important to all of
the US, not only Alaska. A financial commitment - a national investment - is
needed.
A hearing on the Arctic Executive Order was organized last week. There is
a fear that the US Chairmanship of the Arctic Council will have too much focus
on climate change and too little on economic development.
Senator Murkowski will take part in the US delegation to Ministerial
Meeting of the Arctic Council in April. The Senator welcomed members of SCPAR
to participate at Arctic Energy Summit 28-30 September in Fairbanks, Alaska.
A representative from Russia informed about the ongoing
implementation of program of arctic development in Russia.
The representative from Finland informed about a hearing on a
report regarding increased economic cooperation between Finland, Sweden and
Norway in the North, and that Finland will have a national election in April
2015.
The secretariat informed about a meeting with Japanese representatives who expressed
interest in participating in the next CPAR in 2016, and reported from the
Senior Arctic Official meeting in Whitehorse 4-5 March 2015.
In a general discussion after the national reports, Senator Murkowski
presented to the Committee a map of the protected areas in Alaska and explained
the different views from Washington D.C. and the State of Alaska on the future
use of these areas.
In a final round of discussions the members of the committee elaborated
on the need to explain how realities of the people living in the Arctic does
not always correspond with how the Arctic is looked at in the rest of the
world. Especially that the people living in the Arctic needs the opportunity to
make use of the resources in their region, be it seals or petroleum resources.
The message to the COP 21 meeting in Paris in December 2015 must not be
to make the Arctic into a sanctuary and a symbol in the fight against climate
change.
The Arctic Energy Summit
The members of the Committee are encouraged to participate at the Arctic
Energy Summit in Fairbanks 28-30 September 2015. The Committee will look into
the possibilities of hosting a side-event in connection with the meeting.
Decision:
The Committee took note of the information.
7.NEXT MEETING OF SCPAR
The next meeting of SCPAR will be in Reykjavik, Iceland, 12 May 2015.
The SCPAR meeting will be held back to back with the 4th
Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum (NDPF) in Reykjavik 10-11 May 2015. The
members of SCPAR are invited to attend both meetings.
Decision:
The Standing Committee meets in Reykjavik, Iceland 12 May 2015, and the
members attend the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum 10-11 May 2015.
8.ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The members of the Committee decided to sign a letter to the Chair of the
Arctic Council and the incoming Chair of the Arctic Council the reiterate some
of the key messages from the CPAR 11 in Whitehorse 9-11 September 2014.