Second International Forum for Young Politicians of the North-West Russia and Nordic Countries

Resolution

We, the participants at the Second International Forum for young politicians of the North-West Russia and Nordic countriesYoung politicians – representatives of Arkhangelsk region, Kaliningrad region, Leningrad region, Murmansk region, Norwegian Storting, Pskov region, Sami Parliament of Norway, Saint-Petersburg, Troms County, Swedish Riksdag, met in Kirkenes, Norway, 22-24 March 2010.

recall the First International Forum for young politicians of the North-West Russia and Nordic countries, met in Murmansk, Russian Federation, 27 March 2009.

Regarding how to improve the possibilities for young people to live, travel and communicate in the North-West Russia and in the Nordic countries we:

underline the importance and need to provide young people with opportunities to discuss, cooperate and share experiences;

request the Parliamentary Association of the North-West Russia and the Nordic Council to include young politicians in their meetings and other activities;

highlight the need to make an overview of all the existing exchange programs and other possibilities to enhance the mobility of young people in the North-West Russia and in the Nordic countries;

encourage further emphasis to concretize the Northern Dimension Partnership on transport and logistics including necessary structures for information technology as well as to increase the cultural exchange within the Northern Dimension Partnership on culture as to improve the understanding of languages and culture between our countries;

express concern about the existing barriers that make travel between our countries difficult and therefore stress the need to achieve more simple visa regimes in order to increase cooperation between our countries and regions;

Regarding energy issues and climate change we:

emphasize the importance of further efforts in the development of the energy cooperation between regions of the North-West Russia and Nordic countries with increased focus on energy saving, use of renewable energy,

point out the need for a coordinated strategy to manage accidents such as oil spills and other threats to the environment in the region;

highlight the need to get more knowledge about climate change, its consequences for society and possible measures of adaptation to them;

underline the importance of more effective actions to promote the research work, in the sphere of energy efficiency and development of alternative and renewable energy sources suitable for the northern areas;

encourage the development of energy efficient buildings and houses and cooperation to exchange best practices;

point out the need for energy saving measures to be economically beneficial for the user;

Regarding the relationship between politicians and the media we:

acknowledge the mutual interest of politicians and media in informing the public in a neutral way and recognize the important role of media in relaying the political discussions and messages;

The Conference asks

the Chair of the Conference to forward this resolution to the Roundtable Conference between Nordic and Russian politicians in Bergen 25-27 May 2010 and other relevant international meetings and forums

The Conference supports

The proposal of the Arkhangelsk Regional Assembly of deputies to host the Third Forum for young politicians of the North-West Russia and Nordic countries in Arkhangelsk (Russian Federation) in spring 2011