Arctic States and Indigenous Permanent Participants Convene for the 14th Meeting of the Arctic Council and Issue Joint Romssa-Tromsø Statement

"In a challenging time for Arctic cooperation, I am pleased that the Arctic Council remains united. In today's geopolitical situation, it is particularly important to maintain a forum for all Arctic States and the Indigenous Peoples in the region," said Espen Barth Eide Minister of Foreign Affairs for Norway and Chair of the Arctic Council. "During the Norwegian Chairship, Norway has emphasized the consequences of climate change in the Arctic, the importance of cooperation with Indigenous Peoples in decisions affecting their livelihoods and future, and the need for international collaboration to address environmental challenges related to increased human activity."

When Norway assumed the Chairship of the Arctic Council in May 2023, official Arctic Council meetings had been paused. The Norwegian Chairship prioritized resuming the scientific work of the Council, first by achieving consensus to resume the work of the Council's Working Groups by written procedure in August 2023, followed by the gradual resumption of virtual Working Group meetings beginning in February 2024. The Norwegian Chairship regularly engaged both bilaterally and multilaterally with all Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups and Observers.

During its Chairship, Norway focused on four main priorities: The Oceans, Climate and Environment, Sustainable Economic Development and People in the North. Youth and Indigenous Peoples were emphasized as cross-cutting priorities.

The incoming Chairship of the Kingdom of Denmark will highlight five overarching priorities: Indigenous Peoples and Communities in the Arctic, Sustainable Economic Development and Energy Transition Solutions, Oceans, Arctic Climate Change and Biodiversity. The Kingdom of Denmark will continue supporting ongoing activities of the Council's Working Groups, as well as a number of new projects.

"As Chair over the next two years, we will work hard to maintain the Council as vibrant and resilient. First and foremost, for the benefit of the Peoples of the Arctic, so that the Arctic remains a region of stability and constructive cooperation," said Vivian Motzfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Research for Greenland and incoming Chair of the Arctic Council. "We have an overall ambition of being an inclusive Chairship and to bring the work of the Arctic Council close to its citizens. We are very much looking forward to doing so in close cooperation with the other Arctic States, the Permanent Participants and all other relevant stakeholders."

The 14^th Meeting of the Arctic Council took place virtually in a closed setting with representatives from the eight Arctic States, six Permanent Participants and the Council's six Working Groups participating. Accredited Observer states and organizations also attended. The meeting was chaired from Romssa-Tromsø, Norway with the Heads of Delegation for Norway, the Kingdom of Denmark, Inuit Circumpolar Council and the Saami Council attending in person.