Arctic Council Disagreement Defers Observer Status Decision

The Arctic Council didn’t admit any new observers to the international forum during its ministerial meeting on May 20, after members were unable to reach agreement, according to Eye on the Arctic. 

“Essentially the decision to have observers is based on consensus, but that consensus was not achieved,” said Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau. 

Estonia, Ireland and the Czech Republic were among the nations that submitted applications for consideration.

Observers do not participate in the forum’s consensus decisions, but contribute to the Arctic Council through its six working groups which tackle areas ranging from emergency preparedness, to sustainable development and Arctic contaminants.

The Arctic Council has to date approved 13 non-Arctic states, 13 intergovernmental and interparliamentary organizations; and 12 NGOs as observers to the forum’s work.