Nordic co-operation involves Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden as well as the three autonomous areas, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Åland Islands.

Video: Official co-operation in the Nordic Region

The countries and the autonomous territories have different relationships to international unions. Denmark, Iceland and Norway are members of NATO. Denmark, Finland and Sweden are members of the EU. Norway and Iceland are members of the EEA. Finland is the only Nordic country which has adopted the common European currency, the Euro. All the countries are part of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

History

The Nordic countries are closely linked through their history. Going back a thousand years the countries have alternated between co-operation, warring with each other, entering into alliances and conquering each other.

The first step to the current formal, political co-operation was taken after the World War II, and in 1952 when the Nordic Council was formed. The Nordic Council of Ministers, which is an equivalent co-operation between the Nordic governments, was established in 1971.

The guidelines for the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers are laid down in the Helsinki Treaty, which was adopted in 1962, with subsequent frequent amendments.

Nordic Council

The Nordic Council is the Nordic parliamentary co-operation forum. The Council acts as an advisory body for the Nordic governments.

The Nordic Council's members work partly in the Council's Presidium and five political committees and partly in their respective party groups.

The Nordic Council's Session takes place once a year. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden take turns to host the Session. The Nordic parliamentarians meet in this plenary assembly.

A large number of other meetings take place during the Session. Representatives of the Nordic governments meet with each other and with the parliamentarians. The prime ministers and leaders of the oppositions take part in a summit meeting with the Nordic Council on a topic of current affairs. In addition, the Nordic prime ministers meet with their colleagues from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The Nordic Council's prizes for literature, music, film and nature and the environment are awarded in conjunction with the Session.

Nordic Council of Ministers

The Nordic Council of Ministers is the Nordic governments' co-operation forum. Representatives of the governments meet in the Council of Ministers and, for example, draw up the Nordic conventions.

There are ten policy councils of ministers, and the co-operation is co-ordinated by an eleventh council of ministers made up of the ministers for Nordic co-operation in the member countries.

The Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, which is held for a period of one year, alternates between the member countries.

Many of the Council of Ministers’ activities are carried out in the Nordic institutions, projects and initiatives.

The Council of Ministers runs a number of local information offices in the Nordic countries and several offices in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

Nordic co-operation outside the NC/NCM

The Nordic countries do not only co-operate within the framework of the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers. Independent co-operation has also been more or less formalised in a number of areas.

For example, the Nordic countries manage the TV co-operation Nordvision, and they have set up the Nordic Investment Bank, to which Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania now also belong.

In addition, the Nordic countries collaborate in the EU, as well as in foreign and security policies.

Areas of co-operation

The purpose of Nordic co-operation is, on the one hand, to make it attractive to live, work and do business in the Nordic Region, and on the other hand, to strengthen the Nordic countries internationally.

This is done by Nordic co-operation in many areas such as, for example, research, the environment, welfare and culture.

The Nordic Region and Globalisation

Globalisation means that the world's economies have become increasingly linked. At this time there is a major focus on cross-border environment and climate problems. The European Union has been enlarged and is now made up of 27 countries.

This increased internationalisation means that small countries need increased regional co-operation. The Nordic countries have therefore strengthened their dialogue on international affairs.

At the same time the countries continue to develop close internal co-operation which facilitates freedom of movement for individuals and businesses in an open and flexible Nordic market.