The Project in Saami news in Finland

(Photo: Getty Images)The Preparatory Action was in the news on the Saami TV channel, 2 April 2013. The news stated that EU is planning to establish an EU Arctic Information Centre in Rovaniemi and the main objective of the Centre will be to compile information and research materials about the Arctic and make the information easily accessible and understandable for the general public. The planned Centre would have 19 different actors, including Universities of Lapland, Tromso and Oulu.

It could improve the dialogue between the Saami and the EU, says the president of the Finnish Saami Parliamentary, Klemetti Näkkäläjärvi. Saami Parliamentary Council supports the initiative and hopes for resources also for Saami. "If the initiative becomes reality, there should be a permanent forum for dialogue." says Näkkäläjärvi. "That would enable natural communication between the north and the EU, but would require that the Centre would have resources to prepare and manage the forum."

Liisa Jaakonsaari, Finnish member of the European Parliament, thinks that there is a great demand for the Information Centre. "The dialogue about Arctic issues is only increasing." she says. The Information Centre could provide information exchange and cooperation between different Universities and has thus great potential.