The Nordic Council's co-operation with Russian parliamentarians has several objectives. The first concerns solidarity in northern Europe. The division between those countries that are in the EU/EEA and those that are not also reflects a major difference in welfare and living standards. It is an important task for the Nordic Council to co-operate with the Russian politicians with the aim of reducing these differences. This will reduce the risk that a gap in welfare standards will create futile tensions.

Another important goal concerns the general challenges facing northern Europe: the environment, eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, climate changes and living conditions in the Arctic and Baltic Regions, cross-border crime such as trafficking, the development of the infrastructure, health and social welfare as well as the development of democracy through good governance and co-operation with NGOs. The Nordic Council plays an important role in regard to strengthening parliamentary contacts with Russia and taking political initiatives with these challenges. The Northern Dimension, which consists of Russia, the EU, Norway and Iceland, is an important framework for co-operation.

The Nordic Council's contacts with Russia include the Russian Council of Federation and the Russian State Duma (in Russian) in Moscow. A round table discussion was held in Khanty-Mansiysk in Siberia in June 2009, which has been followed every year by new discussions between MPs from the Nordic Region and Russia. At regional level there is contact to PANWR, Northwest Russia's parliamentary assembly. The Nordic Council invites PANWR to its Ordinary Session and vice versa.

Finally there is intergovernmental contact to the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS or SNG.

Every year the Nordic Council organises a week-long parliamentary scholarship programme, which has addressed politicians from Northwest Russia since 2003. In 2012 a group will visit Iceland. In recent years delegations from the Nordic Council have paid similar visits to Northwest Russia - in 2012 a group will visit Nenets and St. Petersburg.

In March 2009 an initiative was taken for a forum of young decision-makers in Murmansk which was also attended by young politicians from the Nordic Council. Every year since there have been similar meetings for young politicians from Northwest Russia and the Nordic Region. In 2012 the 4th forum is being organised in Stockholm in 2012.