09/03/2022 (Agence Europe) – Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the EU have suspended Russia from the Barents Cooperation, a cooperation body set up in 1993, after Russia invaded Ukraine, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced on Wednesday 9 March. The Barents Euro-Arctic Council states that “cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic region will make a substantial contribution to international stability, progress, peace and security in the region and in Europe as a whole”. “In view of Russia’s blatant violation of international law, the violation of rules-based multilateralism and the principles and objectives of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council”, the five countries and the EU “have no choice but to suspend activities involving Russia”, the EEAS explains. (SP)