Euro 2012

After yesterday's Euro 2012 game, all seven remaining teams represent EU-countries. Six of them are in the euro-zone, including the South - Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

It is nice to see, even if for just a moment, that the crisis is not all-pervading.

LOS CABOS

There are interesting statements to follow, as the G20 meeting concludes in Mexico.

It might be worth to reflect on the answer given by President Barroso to questions of a Canadian reporter: "Frankly, we (Europeans) are not coming here to receive lessons in terms of democracy or in terms of how to handle the economy… Seeing as you mention North America, this crisis originated in North America and much of our financial sector was contaminated by, how can I put it, unorthodox practices, from some sectors of the financial market." 

I also listen to Prime Minister Stoltenberg stressing that the crisis took a long time to develop and it will also take time to get out of it. It might affect everybody, even Norway, which has a robust and prosperous economy. 

Then I get the release from Brussels quoting Presidents Van Rompuy and Barroso, as they resume the main message taken from Los Cabos:  "Our partners have recognised that a strong, deeply integrated European Union is decisive for systemic global stability. We must fully acknowledge how interdependent we are in today's global economy. There is no other alternative for the world's leading economies than to work closely together, increasing joint understanding and global economic governance."

I know nothing is simple about this crisis. Nevertheless, acknowledging interdependence and the need for a sustained global effort are important notions.

Karasjok

Defying some of the airport snag, I spent a day and a half in Karasjok for a series of meetings in the framework of the regular dialogue we have with representatives of the Sami people. I was received by Mr Egil Olli, President of the Sami Parliament and I had meetings with representatives of the Sami Council, of Finnmarkseiendommen, of Landsorganisation Sami Duodji as well as with reindeer herders and salmon fishermen. I also gave an interview to NRK.

This journey to Finnmark served one purpose: to understand better how things look like from the Karasjok angle and convey this picture to Brussels. So I went there to see, to listen and to learn.

Finnmark is about sustaining traditions in vast spaces and extraordinary circumstances. Nevertheless, many of the EU's policies and decisions have an impact also there, either through their incorporation into Norwegian law or due to intense cooperation with the neighbouring territories of EU members Finland and Sweden.

Specific issues treated during my visit included marketing of reindeer meat and duodji products, fisheries management and protection of the environment. We discussed the EU's Arctic Policy, its contribution to cooperation and application for observer status in the Arctic Council. We talked about the Sami Parliament's project to develop the Sami language - which gets significant EU financial support. With Mr Olli, we also spoke about the plan to convoke a world conference of indigenous peoples under the auspices of the United Nations in 2014.