The Sámi Parliamentary Council convened for a plenary session in Inari on 16 January 2025, where the chairmanship was transferred from the Finnish Sámi Parliament to the Norwegian Sámi Parliament for the next 16 months. The Finnish chairmanship began on 20 September 2023, and was affected by the organisation of the new Sámi Parliament in early 2024 and the renewed Sámi Parliament elections later in the summer.
The plenary session discussed the activity report of the Finnish chairmanship and approved a new action plan for the Norwegian chairmanship. The Finnish chairmanship focused on, among other things:
Strengthening the financing and organisation of the Sámi Parliamentary Council's activities, in which regard the implementation of a possible project to map out options for improving the administration of the SPR was planned. The project was planned to receive funding through the Interreg programme.
Strengthening the rights of the Sámi people in the EU. The Finnish Sámi Parliament held a dialogue with the European Parliament and discussed a concrete partnership agreement between the Council and the European Parliament. In addition, other possible sources of funding were identified to promote this goal.
The Norwegian Presidency’s action plan will continue to develop these themes.
Our important common goal is to establish a secretariat for the Sámi People’s Parliament. This would strengthen our opportunities to promote common priorities for the Sámi people efficiently and effectively. The Sámi people have a lot to contribute to, for example, joint Nordic politics. Establishing a secretariat would require a commitment to permanent funding from the governments of Finland, Norway and Sweden,
says Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, the outgoing chair of the Sámi People’s Parliament and the Chair of the Finnish Sámi Parliament
The plenary session also discussed the establishment of a joint Sámi appeals body regarding electoral lists. The plenary session was preceded by a joint working meeting of the Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish Sámi Parliaments in December, where the processes related to the conduct of Sámi parliamentary elections and the compilation of electoral lists in each country were reviewed. The SPC plenary session asks the three Sámi Parliaments to investigate the joint Sámi complaints body and bring the matter back to the SPC plenary session.
The plenary session emphasized the active participation of young people in the activities of the SPC. The Youth Council of the Finnish Sámi Parliament led the SPC Youth Committee during its chairmanship and presented a review of its activities at the plenary session. The Youth Committee aims to continue cooperation to increase opportunities for young people to influence.
The Sámi Parliamentary Council acts as a parliamentary cooperation body between the Sámi Parliaments of Norway, Sweden and Finland, in which the Sámi organisations of Russia also participate as observers. The task of the SPC is to strengthen the cooperation of the Sámi people across national borders and to represent the Sámi in international forums. This work is particularly important when dealing with issues that affect the Sámi as a single people.
The Sámi Parliament of Finland was represented on the SPC board by Chairwoman Pirita Näkkäläjärvi and Vice Chairman Tuomas Aslak Juuso. The initiatives implemented during the Finnish Chairmanship will be continued and developed under the leadership of the Norwegian Sámi Parliament.
Source: Samediggi
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