The Nordic countries share a consumer culture. Consumers are highly aware and there is a tradition of strong consumer associations. These associations work alongside business and industry, and their views are usually taken seriously. Together, the Nordic countries are capable of influencing consumer issues inside the EU and of serving as a source of inspiration to others. We believe that Nordic co-operation is capable of making a difference to consumer policies, and that consumer affairs needs to be brought back into the fold of official co-operation.

Despite the fact that the Nordic countries clearly have much in common in the consumer sphere, formal co-operation on consumer policy in the Nordic Council of Ministers was abolished in 2005. We want to change all that.

We face many of the same consumer challenges in the Region, e.g. in relation to ethical consumption, the climate, privacy, children and young people and protecting intellectual property rights. Nordic synergies would also be derived from facing these challenges collectively. It would also make good sense for the Nordic countries to co-operate on consumer affairs within the EU.

Consumer affairs take up a great deal of the EU's time, and the Union takes many initiatives on consumer rights. Collectively, the Nordic countries would be able to exert an influence on, and even serve as a source of inspiration to, EU consumer affairs. As we see it, this Nordic co-operation should be in two phases. Firstly, in the early stages, working together to influence regulatory processes and other initiatives by the Commission. Then, once decisions have been taken in the EU, the Nordic countries would be able to work together to implement the EU legislation.

Nordic co-operation on consumer affairs is also clearly justified in other arenas, not just within the EU. Consumer interests in the Region are often the same, so there is a huge potential for synergies in working together. Together the Nordic countries can play a role and influence international standards. Examples of what the Nordic countries achieved before official co-operation was discontinued in 2005 include the Nordic Swan eco-label and the consumer section of the Maastricht Treaty.
We believe that the Nordic consumer-policy co-operation should be formalised again so that we can, for example, exert a joint influence on EU consumer policy and international consumer standards.

Ville Niinistö (Green), Finland
Henrik Dam Kristensen (S), Denmark
Hans Wallmark (M), Sweden
The co-authors are all members of the Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee.