Eco-efficient economy focus for Swedish chairmanship
MURMANSK: During its two year Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Sweden will focus on measures for making the economy in the Barents region eco-efficient.
- We will focus on how the Barents cooperation can contribute to a better environment, said Head of the Swedish Barents Secretariat Per Wallén at a panel discussion on cross-border cooperation in Murmansk today.
- We have to strengthen cooperation to meet the interlinked challenges of economic development, climate change and sustainable use of resources, The Barents region has a great potential for energy efficiency, and we will intensify the work for more use of renewable energy, he underlined.
As BarentsObserver reported, Sweden took over the Chairmanship from Russia on Thursday.
Mr. Wallén said that he plans to invite the Barents Countries’ ministers for trade and industry and ministers for environment to come together to discuss these issues.
Another focus points for Sweden during the Chairmanship is better possibilities for business in the Barents Region. Small and medium enterprises play a large role in these areas, and Sweden will work to eliminate bottlenecks that hamper activity.
Other important areas for Sweden’s Chairmanship are health and social issues, cultural cooperation, youth participation, transport infrastructure and emergency prevention.
