The International Barents Secretariat

The need for a permanent secretariat for the Barents cooperation arose from the situation where the biannially rotating governmental and regional chairmanships disrupt the continuity of operational work. At the beginning of the 11th BEAC Ministerial session in Rovaniemi on 15 November 2007 the Agreement on the Establishment of an International Barents Secretariat (IBS) was signed.

The IBS was established to provide technical support for the multilateral coordinated regional activities of both the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and the Barents Regional Council and it is meant to serve both the governmental and regional levels of Barents cooperation. The Barents cooperation will gain more coherence and efficiency after the establishment of the Secretariat.

The IBS will be an instrument helping the rotating governmental and regional chairs in their tasks and will guarantee continuity in Barents cooperation.

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	On the web site of the International Barents Secretariat you will find all the information you need concerning the organizing of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region and contact information on the employees of the International Secretariat.