The Nordic Council of Ministers' Secretariat

The Nordic Council of Ministers' Secretariat in Copenhagen is responsible for the day-to-day running of co-operation between the Nordic governments. It is here that the preparatory work is done before issues are raised at the 11 ministerial councils and the committees of senior officials. The Secretariat is also responsible for the implementation of decisions.

The Secretariat's structure is dynamic, changing in line with decisions on Nordic co-operation made by the national governments. In 2008, the Nordic Council of Ministers' Secretariat has almost 100 employees from all the Nordic countries.

Halldór Ásgrímsson, a former Prime Minister of Iceland, took over as Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers on 1 January 2007.

The Nordic Council of Ministers was established in 1971. A secretariat function was established in 1972 and was formally adopted by the Nordic governments a year later.

The Council of Ministers' Secretariat was initially divided into two units: one in Snaregade in Copenhagen, not far from the Danish Parliament at Christiansborg, which dealt with work on culture, research and education, and one in Skt. Olavsgate in Oslo, which dealt with all other areas of co-operation.

They both had their own Secretary General. Over the years, this became impractical and expensive and in 1986 the two offices were merged and moved to Store Strandstræde 18 in Copenhagen, where they were managed by Secretary General Fridtjov Clemet.

The old, listed building still serves as the offices of the Council of Ministers' Secretariat.