Arctic Council statement on the occasion of the 13th meeting of the Arctic Council

May 11, 2023

In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Arctic Council, and in recognition of the objectives and commitments expressed in the Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council and subsequent Ministerial Declarations, the Arctic States joined by the Permanent Participants met and issued the following statement.

1. Recognizing the historic and unique role of the Arctic Council for constructive cooperation, stability and dialogue between people in the Arctic region;
2. Acknowledging the commitment to work to safeguard and strengthen the Arctic Council;
3. Recognizing the rights of Arctic Indigenous Peoples and the unique role of the Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council, their special relation to the Arctic and the importance of cross border and people-to-people cooperation in the region;
4. Recognizing the valuable work accomplished by the Arctic Council since the last Ministerial meeting, with special emphasis on progress achieved in defining the ways to implement the Strategic Plan (2021 to 2030);
5. Recognizing that the work plans outlined in the Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials’ Report to Ministers adopted in Reykjavik in May 2021 along with the Reykjavik Ministerial Declaration and Arctic Council Strategic Plan (2021 to 2030), will form the basis for continuing Council activities for 2023 to 2025;
6. Extending the 2022 to 2023 work plan of the Arctic Council Secretariat, including the Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat work plan, for the 2024 to 2025 period. Approving the Arctic Council Secretariat’s and the Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat’s budgets for the 2024 to 2025 period;
7. Acknowledging the conclusion of the Russian Federation’s second Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, and accepting Norway’s offer to chair the Council in 2023 to 2025, and its offer to host the 14th meeting in 2025.