Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, March 2, 2023

Official Report 1161KB pdf

Decision Time

There are three questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S6M-08073.1, in the name of Donald Cameron, which seeks to amend motion S6M-08073, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Arctic connections—Scotland’s growing links with the Arctic, be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

The next question is, that amendment S6M-08073.2, in the name of Sarah Boyack, which seeks to amend motion S6M-08073, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Arctic connections—Scotland’s growing links with the Arctic, be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

The final question is, that motion S6M-08073, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Arctic connections—Scotland’s growing links with the Arctic, as amended, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament acknowledges the value of Scotland’s involvement in multilateral relations with Arctic nations; agrees on the value of increasing collaboration and building stronger relationships between Scotland and Arctic nations; recognises the importance of participation in educational programmes and sharing knowledge to promote sustainable development in the region and learn from best practice developed there; notes with concern Russia’s recent changes to its Arctic Policy, which remove reference to cooperation with the Arctic Council and instead prioritise ‘the national interests of the Russian Federation’; believes that any framework for Arctic cooperation must respect sovereignty and the rule of law, and that this is incompatible with the invasion and annexation of the sovereign territory of neighbouring states; calls for the Arctic to remain safe, stable and peaceful; acknowledges the particular threat posed to the Arctic by the climate crisis, and the need for climate action to be at the heart of Arctic cooperation; supports the continued engagement with Arctic states, nations and regions to pursue sustainable trade opportunities, develop joint solutions that strengthen community resilience and mark longstanding cultural ties, and acknowledges the UK Government’s updated Arctic Policy Framework, which commits to cooperating with Arctic countries where necessary, as well as protecting their environment and the UK’s security.