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Other decision documents and declarations

There are several agreements within the framework of Nordic co-operation which have status of international law. However, different resolutions carry different weight.

The framework for Nordic Co-operation was laid down in the Helsinki Treaty which was signed on 23 March 1962.

The Helsinki Treaty acts as the fundamental treaty, within the framework of which various treaties and statutes, called amongst other things, understandings, agreements and conventions, have been signed. This has taken place through signing agreements (Article 38-39). One of these agreements is the Nordic Language Convention, on Nordic citizens' right to use their own language in another Nordic country (entered into force on 1 March 1987).

During recent years Nordic Co-operation has been strengthened. This has happened, amongst other things, through decisions and declarations by the Prime Ministers, at the meetings of the Nordic Prime Ministers.

One starting shot was the decision taken in Punkaharju in Finland 2007 when the Prime Ministers agreed to promote closer Nordic co-operation on globalisation issues, which led to the first Globalisation Forum being held during the Prime Ministers' meeting at Riksgränsen on 8-9 April 2008.

The Prime Ministers issued the Riksgränsen Declaration, which contains the framework for joint Nordic measures in the area of globalisation. The declaration is a follow to the conclusions of the Prime Ministers' meeting.

The Åland Document is also an important document for the autonomous territories participation in Nordic co-operation. The document was adopted at a meeting between the Nordic Ministers for Co-operation in Mariehamn on 5 September 2007.

The document gives the autonomous territories of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland a stronger position in Nordic Co-operation.

Declarations like the Riksgränsen Declaration, and documents like the Åland Document, can be described as soft law - they have a guiding function until the objective is achieved or entered into force in Nordic Co-operation.

Decisions which are called declarations or documents are also agreements intended to strengthen Nordic Co-operation within the framework of the Helsinki Treaty (Article 38-39).

Furthermore, a ministerial meeting was held in Växjö (25-27 June 2008), when the Nordic Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Foodstuffs and Forestry met.

In the Växjö Declaration a number of declarations were adopted with specific meaning (according to the Helsinki Treaty, Article 1 and 33).

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