At the 60th Session in Helsinki in 2008, Sinikka Bohlin (S) was elected President of the Nordic Council for 2009.

Kent Olsson MP (M) was elected Vice-President.

The Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2009 considers Nordic co-operation increasingly important in a globalised world.

Based on the long-term framework programme “Our Vision for Nordic Co-operation”, the 2009 Presidency will focus on:

Community– protecting our historical, cultural and language community

Neighbourhood– the Baltic Sea, the Arctic Region, North-West Russia and the EU's Northern Dimension

Globalisation – “The Nordic Region as a Global Winner” programme and the potential benefits of globalisation

The Presidency also aims to:

• increase parliamentarians' influence over the budget process
• streamline the way co-operation is organised
  
• improve dialogue between the Council and the Council of Ministers
  
• build support for Nordic co-operation in our national parliaments
• work more closely with voluntary organisations.
  

Community

Community is at the very heart of the Nordic concept; united by our history, our language and our culture, we enjoy close collaboration between NGOs, e.g. the Confederation of Nordic Associations (FNF).
The Nordic countries work together on issues of mutual interest, for the benefit of their citizens. The partnership is based on a shared Nordic value system. Co-operation is designed to improve integration in all the Nordic countries and benefit all the Region's citizens.

The vision is:

• to promote freedom of movement and make it easier for people and businesses to move within, relocate to, work in and set up in other Nordic countries
• to preserve and develop the Nordic community and promote understanding of the Nordic languages.

The 2009 Presidency will:

• seek to abolish obstacles to cross-border freedom of movement and prevent the creation of new ones by encouraging the closer co-ordination and harmonisation of national legislation
• mark the bicentennial of the separation of Sweden and Finland in 1809 with Nordic Council summer meetings in Haparanda/Torneå that will concentrate on freedom of movement
• work with the Nordic Youth Council to improve language teaching in schools
• work with the Language School in Haparanda/Torneå to improve understanding of the Nordic languages
• organise a seminar, “The Nordic Region – Future or History?” along with the Nordic Region in Focus

Neighbourhood

Neighbourhood is the term used to describe the Region's partnerships with the countries around the Baltic Sea and in North-West Russia. These activities have become increasingly crucial to Nordic co-operation. Neighbourhood consists of bilateral co-operation with the states in the Adjacent Areas, as well as active participation in wider regional structures, especially within the framework of the EU's Northern Dimension.

The vision is:

• to play an active role in co-operation around the Baltic Sea and in the West-Nordic Region, the Arctic and the Barents Region, and to work more closely with the European Parliament
• to make the Northern Dimension a political platform for promoting partnerships that promote sustainable development, the environment, prosperity and security in Northern Europe, and to develop partnerships with Russia, especially North-West Russia, as part of that process
• to strengthen democracy in the neighbouring countries.

The 2009 Presidency will:

further develop and strengthen practical co-operation with parliamentary bodies and others involved in politics in the neighbouring countries

• adopt a joint action plan with the Baltic Assembly
• work with the Baltic Assembly and Belarus to organise a seminar in Vilnius, Lithuania
• take part in round-table talks with Russian parliamentarians
• participate in the Parliamentary Forum for the Northern Dimension
• attend the fourth Barents Parliamentary Conference
• take part in the 18th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference.

Globalisation

Globalisation presents both challenges and opportunities for Nordic co-operation. The issues it raises cannot be addressed by single nations working in isolation, so closer integration and partnership are of the utmost importance.

The vision is:

• to influence the Nordic globalisation initiative, provide it with tangible content and create stable and sustainable economic growth by prioritising education and training, research and development, entrepreneurship, innovation and renewal.
• to involve the whole Council in active work to make the Region a winner in a globalised world and enable all sectors to make a contribution to a strong and competitive Nordic Region.

The 2009 Presidency will:

• translate the prime ministers' globalisation initiative into tangible actions
• exert influence on the Council of Ministers and the Nordic governments to ensure joint Nordic input into the Climate Summit 2009,
• and to raise the profile of the Region both before and during the event
• play a part in the prime ministers' Globalisation Forum
• organise a seminar in advance of the Climate Summit, along with NIB and NEFCO
• work with the Nordic Association to organise a seminar on climate change in Northern Europe and the significance of this for defence and security policy in the Region
• work with the Nordic Region in Focus and other interested parties to organise a seminar on closer Nordic co-operation on security and defence.