New action plan to promote cultural cooperation in the High North
Cultural cooperation promotes cross border understanding, but also spurs innovation and growth in the entire region. That was the conclusion of participants at the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Tromsø on February 22nd.
- It is important to promote culture and cultural activities in their own right, as means to connect people across borders, and not just look at the business aspects of cultural affairs, said Benthe Dahl at the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum.
- Photographer
- Johannes Jansson/norden.org
A new action plan for cultural cooperation between the countries in the high north is underway.
- Culture and creative industries are crucial to our economy. And the cooperation established in the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture can enhance developments in this area throughout the region, said Icelandic MP Olina Thorvardardottir, President of the West Nordic Council, at the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Tromsø on February 22nd. ( See final Conference Statement)
The Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture is one of four areas of cooperation within the Northern Dimension, The others are environmental issues, transport and logistics, plus health and social well-being.
The action plan will the guide the efforts of the cultural partnership over the next two years, where the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture will be hosted by a new Secretariat under the Nordic Council of Ministers.
- With this new plan in hand, we can begin the practical political work of promoting cultural cooperation in the high north, said Danish MP, Bente Dahl, Vice-President of the Culture and Education Committee of the Nordic Council.
She added also that it is important to promote culture and cultural activities in their own right, as means to connect people across borders, and not just look at the business aspects of cultural affairs.
The Northern Dimension partnership was established in 2006 between the governments of Norway, Iceland, Russia and the EU Commission. Belarus, Canada and the United States participate as observers.
The first Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum was held in the European Parliament in 2009. It includes in addition among others the Nordic Council, the West Nordic Council, the Baltic Assembly and the Barents Parliamentary Conference. The aim of the forum is to support and further the partnership process in the four areas involved.
The new action plan in the Cultural Partnership will be published in a few weeks at the website of the new NDCP secreatariat.
Contacts
Michael Funch
Phone
+45 33960332
Email
mifu@norden.org
