http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee 293 David López Morales Terrae ultima thule: Cooperation in the Artic region and a consensus reached. For example, to reinforce the AC’s institutional power, a permanent secretariat was set up in Tromsø at the Ministerial Meeting in Nuuk68. In order to obtain public goods, the A-8 require that the AC divide the research work between various working groups. Each group has a chairperson from each of the permanent member states and is comprised of representatives of government agencies in each A-8 country. The following groups currently exist: ACAP, engaged in contaminant prevention activities; AMAP, for monitoring and assessment of the state of the environment in the Arctic; CAFF, devoted to the conservation of Arctic flora and fauna; EPPR, group specialised in the management of environmental emergencies and crises; PAME, responsible for recommending public policy for the protection of the Arctic marine environment and, finally, SDWG, which focuses on projects to advance sustainable development in the region69. With regards to the funding of the AC, Koivurova has pointed out that this is an ad hoc matter, given that there is no rule laying down the obligation for A-8 countries to provide funding70. Indeed, the Council itself recognises that it does not have a set funding programme and that funds are contributed through the sponsorship of specific projects by one or more members.71 On the other hand, following the changes introduced at the Ministerial Meeting in Nuuk in 2011 it was decided that the Observers should make monetary contributions to guarantee the work of the AC and, to ensure that no Observer had the power to influence the work of the Council, their contribution cannot exceed that of the A-8.72 It therefore acts as a disincentive by ensuring that the Observers, “before investing a large amount of money and time… will think about what they are going to achieve in return for this considerable sacrifice.”73 And this is how the A-8 deter other international actors from trying to influence or control their mechanism for the production of public goods. The meeting house We should mention one of the more recent roles assumed by the AC: to be a place where cooperation in research leads to the creation of binding treaties. By this, we do not mean that the AC has the power to make binding decisions, but that the activities and dialogue that take place within the Council have made it a “meeting place” for 68 The Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council. May 12, 2011. Nuuk, Greenland. 69 HAFTENDORN, op. cit., p.p. 20-22. 70 KOIVUROVA, Timo, “Limits and possibilities of the Arctic Council in Arctic governance”, p.3 71 ARCTIC COUNCIL, “About us” Available at: http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/ about-us (Accessed on 18-12-2015). 72 HAFTENDORN, op. cit., p.17. 73 OLSON, 1985, p.42.
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