AEC addressed the Arctic Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Rovaniemi

The Ministers and delegates received a conference briefing today on the activities of the Arctic Economic Council by the Chair Tero Vauraste from Finland. Sustainable development and freedom of trade were addressed as the key focus areas. The recent international trade barriers may have severe implications to safe operations in the Arctic as the use of best services and technologies is hampered by trade barriers like tariffs and new protectionist regulations.

The Arctic holds a big business potential. “The recent IPCC report testifies that there is an urgent need for best available technologies. We need to ensure freedom of trade in order to secure their availability around the Arctic,” says Tero Vauraste, the Chair of the Council.

On the side lines of the Ministerial meeting the Interaction Council, an organisation of former state leaders, also received an address by the Chair with a key message to act for the freedom of trade in the Arctic.

Please see the full statement here