"The Nordic dimension is our first international point of contact, and we always help each other in other international forums. For example, when Denmark held the Presidency of the European Union in 2002, we received a great deal of support form the Swedish foreign minister during the EU enlargement process."

Haarder mentions international co-operation as a key priority for the Council and says that good progress has already been made. Defence and foreign policy are now discussed, which was not the case two decades ago, for example. The new President also considers freedom of movement and the Nordic globalisation initiative to be key issues facing the Council.

Lack of conflict is a challenge

"The biggest challenge facing Nordic co-operation is that we forget about it because it works so well. Lack of conflict and harmonious collaboration don't attract a great deal of media attention. A whole generation is growing up that has forgotten that we are part of a Nordic community," he points out.

Conflict is not always a bad thing and the new President also refers to a report that proposes paving the way for majority decisions instead of unanimous consensus between the Nordic countries.

"It would make Nordic co-operation more dynamic if consensus wasn't always a prerequisite. Take the EU, for example, where concnsus has been dropped in favour of greater dynamism. Nordic co-operation has been characterised less by governmental and ministerial commitment and more by the need to reach agreement."

Openness a Nordic brand

The Nordic social model, which is based on openness and tolerance, is one of the countries' strengths, according to Haarder, As an example he cites Norwegian reactions to the summer terror attacks, when the nation re-affirmed its commitment to openness and derived strength from it.

"Fear is the biggest threat to openness. Kennedy asserted that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, and there is a great deal of truth in that. Norway's reaction made a deep impression on the other Nordic countries. It is highly positive that the prime ministers wish to discuss ways of putting openness into practice."

Broad cultural base

According to Haarder, the Nordic countries back each other in international contexts because they understand each other, an understanding that extends to the business sector, where the Nordic countries constitute a large, single market. One tangible outcome of this has been company mergers.

“Companies seeking partners for a merger often start with a company in another Nordic country before taking the plunge further afield. We politicians should remember that private companies lead the way in Nordic co-operation.”

Haarder also points out that the combined population of 25 million also provides a broad cultural base.

“We can read each other's books and watch each other's TV shows,  all of which expands and enriches our cultural life. I would also like to see far more and closer media and television co-operation, especially since we understand each others' languages. I have even jokingly claimed that Pippi Longstocking has done more for mutual Nordic understanding than all of the Sessions of the Nordic Council put together.”

Silje Bergum Kinsten
Phone +45 33 96 02 51
Email siki@norden.org

Heidi Orava
Phone +45 33 96 04 60
Email heor@norden.org