The Nordic institutions

The Nordic institutions are spread throughout the Region. The staff are recruited by the institutions themselves, except the heads of the institutions, who are appointed by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Secretariat. They are not state employees but follow the regulations for state employees in the country where the institution is located. This means, amongst other things, that they are linked to state pension schemes, and governed by government working conditions and state salary categories. All staff are employed on fixed-term contracts for four years, which can be extended by four years to a maximum of eight years.

Employees who move from one Nordic country to another to work for a Nordic institution have the opportunity to apply for a special supplement as well as relocation grants, etc.

The information offices in the Baltic states and North-West Russia

The heads of the offices are appointed by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Secretariat and, aside from slight differences, are governed by the same working conditions and regulations as the secretariats in Copenhagen. The head of the office is a contracted, five-year position, with a possible three-year extension to a maximum of eight years.

Employees are appointed by the offices and are subject to national regulations. The local employees are in fixed positions. The working language is English or the local language.

The Nordic Region in Focus

Employees of the Nordic Region in Focus are subject to national working conditions and follow the working conditions, salaries, etc. for the national authority or institution at which they are employed. The project staff are employed by a national authority or institution in the Nordic Region. Project appointment means that salaries etc. are paid out of the project budget funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Co-ordinators of the working groups

The members of the Nordic working groups, including their co-ordinators and chairpersons, consist mainly of officials from the Nordic countries’ administrations. The groups run the projects and promote Nordic co-operation within the framework of these projects.

Appointment as a co-ordinator to one of the working groups is subject to national working conditions and the working conditions, salaries, etc. for the national body or institution where the employee is based. The co-ordinator is a project employee and is employed by a national agency or institution in the Nordic Region. Project appointment means that salaries etc. are paid out of the project budget.