Finland’s chairmanship in the Arctic Council (2017-2019) in the age of change and uncertainty

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Timo Koivurova, Małgorzata Śmieszek, Adam Stępień, Harri Mikkola, Juha Käpylä, Paula Kankaanpää

Senior Research Fellows Harri Mikkola ja Juha Käpylä have written – together wiht Timo Koivurova, Małgorzata Śmieszek, Adam Stępień and Paula Kankaanpää – a report “Finland’s chairmanship in the Arctic Council (2017-2019) in the age of change and uncertainty” published by the Prime Minister´s Office, 14.2.2017.

Finland assumes the chairmanship of the Arctic Council for two years in May 2017. The report provides scholarly knowledge to support the preparation and implementation of the Finnish chairmanship, the definition of priorities for Finnish Arctic policy and public discussion on the Arctic and its transformation.

Finland prepares to take over the chairmanship in an increasingly uncertain environment, especially with regard to the economic and political development of the region. Similarly, the Arctic governance structure is transforming. The tasks of the chairman have changed over time as the Arctic Council itself has evolved and non-Arctic actors increasingly pay attention to the region and the Council.

The report investigates the transformation of the Arctic region from various perspectives, including the environment and environmental problems, societal change, political and geopolitical dynamics as well as traditional and new economic prospects.

The report also investigates the ways in which regional challenges can be tackled with legal and political means, especially in the Arctic Council. In addition, the report analyses the consequences of the chairmanship for Finland and presents suggestions that could enable a successful chairmanship period.

The full report is available for download here (in Finnish)