MINING AND METALLURGICAL COMPANY NORILSK NICKEL International Arctic Legal Forum on the legal aspects of Arctic Regions preservation and sustainable development was organized by the Russian Government Legislation and Comparative Jurisprudence Institute with the support of State Duma and was held on November 13-14, 2014 in St. Petersburg.
The forum was attended by representatives of State Duma, Federation Council, Russian Government, authorities of Arctic Regions, leading research and development centers from multiple countries, including Russia, Finland and Canada and senior managers of major Russian and international companies.
Discussions focused on the current issues related to improving legal framework essential for further development of Russian Arctic Regions and searching for legal solutions to major local social and economic challenges. Special attention was paid to development of the legal methods for promoting Government policies in the region, legal assurances to observer the rights and interests of local residents, rational use of the region's resource potential and establishing favorable investment climate in view of the current international legal landscape.
MMC Norilsk Nickel deputy Legal Department Director, Dmitry Mikhailov, presented the Company's proposals during the discussion on difficulties in cooperation between Federal Government, local authorities and business community. These proposals covered multiple subjects including development of a comprehensive Arctic Regions legal framework, mitigation of separation of powers issues, multi-level decision-making efficiency, elimination of economic and social development imbalances between Russian Arctic and Eurasian regions and enhancement of legal mechanisms used to promote Government interests in region.
Further emphasis was placed on developing contemporary legal mechanisms creating favorable labor conditions in the region and aimed at directing migration flows to the Country's North and ensure consistent replenishment of additional labor force despite harsh climate conditions by increasing non-contributory pensions and exempting employers' expenses associated with employee housing or health and recreation trips from insurance contributions.
It was also proposed to include provisions allowing major industrial companies to help institute Advanced Development Territories into the corresponding pieces of legislation to build on the existing and prospective Government support and regulation mechanisms.
It was also deemed advisable to introduce special Government support mechanisms, targeting employers creating jobs and investing in development of production facilities or social infrastructure in the region.
The list of proposals also included legal provisions prioritizing allocation of geological surveying, prospecting and subsoil use licenses to companies funding own geological exploration activities in the region.
Forum participants expressed their support for the initiative and suggested creating multiple expert bodies to discuss and expand on the Forum's main subjects.
Norilsk Nickel proposals will be included into the list of Forum recommendations and submitted to the Russian Government and both lower and upper houses of the Russian Parliament.
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