By 1991 the NCM had already opened offices in the capital cities of all three Baltic States - at that time as part of the Nordic efforts to support Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in their endeavours for independence. However, this endeavour reached a conclusion with the accession of the countries to the EU, which in turn changed the format for co-operation between the Nordic Council of Ministers and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

After a decade of aid the time was ripe for partnership and co-operation on equal terms. This has become the main priority in the Nordic Council of Ministers' work with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in recent years.

The Nordic Council of Ministers' work with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is directed today by the guidelines adopted by the Nordic Ministers for Co-operation on 13 November 2008. These guidelines, which are in force for the period 2009-2013, include the main priorities for the Nordic Council of Ministers' co-operation and the way in which this work will be developed.

The subject areas in which the Nordic Council of Ministers particularly wants to develop co-operation are as follows:

• Education, research and innovation
• Business, cluster co-operation and creative industries
• The environment, climate and energy, including environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea and the promotion of effective environmental technologies and renewable sources of energy
• The international challenges faced by welfare societies. Possible areas of co-operation include combating human trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS; improving co-operation between police forces and public prosecution services; developing hospital services; and addressing demographic challenges in relation to, e.g. labour-market policy.
• Cross-border regional co-operation to promote joint fundamental values, such as democracy, good governance, gender equality, freedom of speech and tolerance – both under Nordic–Baltic auspices and in relation to other neighbouring countries, including Belarus.

NGOs play a prominent role in co-operation between the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Baltic States and North-West Russia today. To that end, the Nordic Council of Ministers launched its NGO programme for the Baltic Sea region in October 2006, which funds co-operation between NGOs in the Nordic and Baltic countries, North-West Russia, Kaliningrad, Poland and Belarus.

The concrete responsibility for co-operation lies with the council of ministers and committees of senior officials jointly with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Co-operation takes place according to the principal guidelines adopted by the Nordic Ministers for Co-operation, while the specific specialist content is defined by the departmental ministers.

Forging closer ties in Nordic-Baltic co-operation is a continual, on-going process which takes place within the framework of the different departmental areas.

The Nordic Information Office in each of the three Baltic capitals also plays a central role in this dynamic and co-operative process. The offices work closely with the Nordic embassies and co-ordinate joint activities. The offices identify trends and opportunities for joint Nordic-Baltic co-operation in dialogue with the Nordic embassies. The offices are exponents of all that is "Nordic", create a broad image of Nordic co-operation and are also responsible for some project administration, such as the joint Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programmes for Public Administration and Business and Industry.