Meld. St. 7 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) Meld. St. 7 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) Published by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs The High North Internet address: www.government.no Visions and strategies Cover photo: Norwegian Military Geographic Service Printed by: 07 Xpress AS 08/2012 The High North Meld. St. 7 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) The High North Visions and strategies Translation from the Norwegian. For information only. Contens Part I Strategic objectives and policy 6 Security and defence .................. 68 instruments .................................. 7 7 Cooperation in the High North 73 Introduction ................................................... 9 7.1 Russia .............................................. 74 7.2 The Arctic Council ........................ 83 1 Achievements in Norway's High 7.3 The Barents Cooperation ............. 86 North policy. The way forward 7.4 The Northern Dimension ............. 92 and overall objectives ................ 10 7.5 Nordic cooperation ....................... 94 2 Strategic priorities and results 20 Part III Growing activity in the High 2.1 Main objectives of the High North North. Opportunities and policy .............................................. 20 challenges ..................................... 95 2.2 Strategic priorities and results ..... 21 8 Environmental protection and 3 An integrated High North policy 32 environmental problems ........... 97 3.1 A targeted High North policy ....... 33 8.1 The natural environment as an 3.2 Geopolitics in the High North ...... 34 essential basis for welfare and 3.3 Climate change: a warmer Arctic . 36 value creation .................................. 98 3.4 Knowledge is at the core of our 8.2 Pressures and impacts on the High North policy .......................... 38 environment in the High North .... 98 3.5 The indigenous dimension of 8.3 A long-term, integrated environ- Norway’s High North policy ......... 44 mental management regime ......... 100 8.4 Targeted regional and global 4 Instruments of Norway’s High environmental cooperation ........... 101 North policy ................................ 46 4.1 The High North Strategy and 9 Knowledge-based integrated New Building Blocks in the North 46 marine management ................. 103 4.2 Policy instruments for the High North .............................................. 47 10 Maritime safety, oil spill 4.3 International dialogue .................. 52 preparedness and response, 4.4 National dialogue .......................... 55 and search and rescue capacity 105 10.1 Maritime safety and preparedness Part II A responsible actor in the and response to acute pollution .... 105 High North .................................. 57 10.2 Search and rescue .......................... 108 5 International legal framework 59 11 Fisheries, aquaculture and 5.1 A basis for stability and marine bioprospecting .............. 111 predictability .................................. 59 11.1 The fisheries industry in the 5.1.1 The Law of the Sea ....................... 60 High North ...................................... 112 5.1.2 Norway’s 200-mile zones .............. 60 11.2 Aquaculture in the High North ..... 114 5.1.3 Svalbard and Jan Mayen ............... 60 11.3 Marine bioprospecting .................. 116 5.1.4 Unresolved issues related to jurisdiction .................................... 62 12 Oil and gas activities .................. 118 5.2 Borders .......................................... 62 5.2.1 Norway’s land borders in the north 62 13 Business development and 5.2.2 Delimitation of the continental value creation ............................... 123 shelf and the economic zones ..... 62 13.1 Knowledge and innovation as a 5.3 Treaty with Russia on maritime basis for business development ... 123 delimitation and cooperation in the 13.2 Infrastructure for transport and Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean 65 electronic communications .......... 126 5.4 The rights of indigenous peoples . 66 13.3 Electricity infrastructure and renewable energy .......................... 129 13.4 New prospects for the maritime 13.8 Arctic agriculture and reindeer sector ............................................. 130 husbandry ...................................... 139 13.5 Mineral extraction in the High North .............................................. 133 14 Economic and administrative 13.6 Space-related activity ................... 136 consequences ............................... 142 13.7 Tourism .......................................... 138 The High North Visions and strategies Meld. St. 7 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) Recommendation of 18 November 2011 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approved in the Council of State the same day. (white paper from the Stoltenberg II Government) Part I Strategic objectives and policy instruments 2011–2012 Meld. St. 7 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) 9 The High North Introduction This white paper presents a comprehensive over- The white paper outlines the policy direction view of the Government’s High North policy. It and ambitions in a number of selected areas. The outlines visions, objectives and policy instru- relevant ministries report to the Storting on ments. implementation in the various policy areas. The The Government takes a long-term approach measures outlined in this white paper must be to the High North policy, viewing it as a process viewed in connection with the most recent white that will span generations. The Government paper on Svalbard (Report No. 22 (2008–2009) to reports on and formulates key elements of policy the Storting), the First update of the Integrated in connection with the annual budgets. The Management Plan for the Marine Environment of national budgets contain information on the status the Barents Sea–Lofoten Area (Meld. St. 10 (2010– and progress made in the various areas. But the 2011)), the white paper An industry for the future – impact and results of the annual initiatives must Norway’s petroleum activities (Meld. St. 28 (2010– also be viewed from a longer-term perspective. 2011), the National Transport Plan 2010–2019, The previous white paper on the High North, and other planning documents in relevant sectors. Opportunities and Challenges in the North (Report The basic structure of the white paper is as fol- No. 30 (2004–2005) to the Storting) laid the foun- lows: dation for much of the High North policy. In Part I describes how the High North policy autumn 2005 the Government’s policy platform has taken shape over the past 20 years. It sets out identified the High North as Norway’s most the role Norway has played in setting the agenda important strategic foreign policy priority, and the for political developments in the High North, an scope of the policy was broadened, the ambition area that is now attracting considerable internatio- level raised and policy instruments strengthened. nal attention. It provides an outline of the main In 2006 the Government presented its High objectives of Norway’s High North policy for the North Strategy. This was followed up in 2009 with next 20 years as well as an overview of the results the publication of the report New Building Blocks achieved and future priorities in 15 strategic prio- in the North – the next step in the Government’s rity areas. High North Strategy. These documents form the Part II reviews key foreign policy issues asso- basis for the Government’s High North policy. ciated with Norway’s role as a responsible actor in The main focus of the present white paper is on the High North, with a focus on the international foreign policy. Particular emphasis is given to the legal framework, clarification of border issues, role Norway’s strategic, long-term efforts in the security policy trends, the role of the Norwegian High North can play in strengthening the basis for Armed Forces, and the development of coopera- value creation and welfare throughout the country. tion with Russia and other states in the High The present white paper provides an in-depth North, for example through circumpolar and regi- foreign policy analysis and sets out Norway’s pri- onal cooperation forums. orities in the context of a changing international Part III reviews the relevance of the High agenda. It is not a white paper about North Nor- North policy in other key areas. The Government way. Nor is it a review of regional policy. The focus will take steps to facilitate increased activity and of the High North policy is on strengthening Nor- value creation in the High North. This section of way’s position in the High North by drawing on the white paper discusses the environmental fram- experience, knowledge and resources from all ework for business activity and the importance of over the country. We will seek to safeguard Nor- integrated marine management and maritime wegian interests, enhance the basis for value cre- safety, as well as fisheries and aquaculture, petro- ation, ensure sustainable management of the envi- leum activities and a few key land-based indus- ronment and sound exploitation of resources, and tries. strengthen our presence and cooperation in the High North. 10 Meld. St. 7 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) 2011–2012 The High North 1 Achievements in Norway's High North policy. The way forward and overall objectives Figure 1.1 North Cape, Finnmark. Photo: Johan Wildhagen / www.visitnorway.com From the vantage point of 2011, we can look back and identify some of the