In February 2009 Thorvald Stoltenberg presented his report "Nordic co-operation on foreign and defence policy" to the Nordic foreign ministers. The report presents a number of policy areas and occasions for closer and more wide-ranging Nordic partnerships in foreign and security affairs.

Since the report was presented the EU Treaty of Lisbon has entered into force, which, amongst other things, has introduced new conditions for foreign and security policies which will have an impact on Nordic co-operation.

Enestam said that the Stoltenberg report had not yet influenced the Nordic governments in the right direction, for example, in regard to embassies.

"It is difficult to understand why this is not already underway, despite the fact that the foreign ministers commissioned the report themselves. Belarus is an excellent example where only Sweden has an embassy today. We could share a Nordic representation there, according to Enestam.

"The costs of defence material for the armed forces are constantly rising and therefore co-operation becomes increasingly important. These cost increases will intensify the integration of the Nordic countries' armed forces, which may gradually join together in a Nordic defence union", said Enestam, and praised the Nordic MPs for being proactive in this matter.

He also proposed a loose "Nordic bloc" within the EU which could include the Baltic States.

Teija Tiilikainen, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, suggested that the Nordic countries should issue a Nordic declaration of solidarity in the event of an external attack and that such a declaration would strengthen the Lisbon Treaty.

Fredrik Doeser, Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, said in his speech that the Lisbon Treaty could facilitate the development of Nordic security policies and a Nordic Security Service. The aim would be to increase Nordic influence in the EU", said Doeser.

Baldvin Þor Bergsson, journalist and political analyst from Iceland, called for help from NATO and the Nordic countries in the event of an attack on Iceland.

"Iceland must ask Sweden, in particular, why it calls for a declaration of solidarity with the EU but not with the other Nordic countries, “said Bergsson.

The Lisbon Treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009 and thus put an end to many years of negotiations on institutional matters. The purpose of the Treaty is to simplify, clarify and streamline EU decision making. The Treaty amends the existing EU and EC treaties but does not replace them. The Treaty of Lisbon introduces the framework and the tools that the EU considers necessary to meet future challenges and people's needs in a globalized world.