Globalization at the border
Climate change and the globalization of the economy is making cross-border cooperation increasingly important, Thorvald Stoltenberg highlighted in his presentation at the Stoltenberg Symposium last week.
-Far away does not exist any longer, Mr. Stoltenberg stressed, saying that countries and regions have been brought far closer to each other thanks to globalization. This increases the need for cross-border cooperation, the former Norwegian foreign minister underlined. Mr. Stoltenberg, one of the founding fathers of the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation, in his presentation at the Stoltenberg Symposium in Kirkenes, northern Norway, stressed that cross-border cooperation can help bring stability and peace to complex and troublesome European border regions. -Border regions like the Barents Region, Baltic Region and the Balkans are important for all-European security, Stoltenberg stressed. He warned against political centralization, which he believes will weaken local government and subsequently also cross-border cooperation. The Stoltenberg Symposium is a yearly event, which carries Thorvald Stoltenberg’s own name. It is organized by the Barents Institute.
