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1953–1971

Many plans and initiatives, little progress.

The 1950s saw plans for both a Nordic free-trade area and a Nordic customs union, but Sweden, Norway and Denmark opted to join EFTA in 1960 instead.

Finland became an associate member of EFTA in 1961, and Iceland joined in 1970. For a brief period, all of the Nordic countries were part of the same free-trade area.

However, co-operation in the EEC was closer and more binding than that in EFTA. In July 1961, the United Kingdom applied for EEC membership, followed by Denmark and Norway.

The application process for all three countries stalled due to President de Gaulle's opposition to British membership. Negotiations ground to a halt in January 1963.

In fact, the problems within the EEC made a permanent treaty on Nordic co-operation seem more desirable. The treaty was finally ratified in Helsinki on 23 March 1962, which is why the Nordic “constitution” is known as the Helsinki Treaty.

From 1968 until early 1970, intense negotiations on Nordic economic co-operation within a framework dubbed “Nordek” foundered when Finland stated it could not take part because of its relationship with the Soviet Union.

However, this setback led to another initiative, and the Nordic Council of Ministers was established in 1971.

Contact

Marita Hoydal
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The Nordic Region

History of the Nordic region

This history of the Nordic region from the Viking times to the present.
The Nordic Council

The history of the Nordic Council

After the Second World War the politicians of the time strived for stronger international co-operation. This was the time when the United Nations was established, the Council of Europe created and the first steps were taken towards the EU. At the same time there were many discussions on much closer Nordic co-operation. As a result the Nordic Council was formed in 1952.
Nordic Council of Ministers

History of the Nordic Council of Ministers

The Nordic Council of Ministers was established in 1971 after an attempt at Nordic economic co-operation, the so-called Nordek, had failed the year before. Denmark and Norway voted on membership of the EC in 1972, and one of the goals of the Nordic Council of Ministers was to maintain Nordic co-operation, in the event that some of the Nordic countries also became EC members.