EU on the Nordic agenda
The Ministers for Nordic Co-operation engaged in an extended discussion on this topic at their meeting. The discussion was marked by the lack of clarity following the British referendum on the country’s withdrawal from the EU.
The three Nordic members of the EU – Denmark, Finland, and Sweden – stressed the importance of avoiding the adoption of regional positions in relation to European co-operation. Nevertheless, it is still both possible and important that the Nordic countries strengthen their co-operation as much as possible, including on EU legislation affecting key Nordic issues.
The Nordic Region has the potential to remain Europe’s most integrated region“By co-ordinating the implementation of EU legislation more efficiently, we can prevent the emergence of new border barriers within the Nordic Region,” says Finland’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation Anne Berner, who chaired the meeting.
“The Nordic Region has the potential to remain Europe’s most integrated region,” she adds.
Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Dagfinn Høybråten stresses that the council of ministers is not an independent player in the EU.
“The objective of localising those areas in the Nordic Region where there is the potential for more efficient co-ordination can benefit the interests of the individual countries,” he points out.
