Ministers of the four Barents countries have met regularly since the Kirkenes Declaration in 1993. The most important ministerial meetings are the BEAC Foreign Ministers' Sessions, which take place biennally. The BEAC Foreign Minister's Sessions is the highest decision-making body in the whole Barents cooperation.
Between the ministerial meetings, the Committee of Senior Officials organizes the work of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.
Over the past years also the Prime Ministers, Ministers of Environment, Transport, Culture and Competitiveness have gathered to discuss topical issues in the Barents region. In November 2019 Norway hosted the first Barents Health Ministers' Meeting.
The meeting documents and joint declarations can be found here.
The XVII BEAC Foreign Ministers' Session took place in Umeå (SE), October 4, 2019.
17th BEAC Foreign Ministers' Session in Umeå (SE), October 2019. Photo: Jonas Karlsbakk