The Council holds an annual meeting in the autumn, usually at the end of October or beginning of November. This meeting, called the Session of the Nordic Assembly, is the highest decision-making body for Nordic parliamentary co-operation.

The Session is a unique form for regional co-operation which is attended by Nordic MPs, who are members of the Council, and by Nordic government ministers. They all take part in the debates on important questions for Nordic co-operation, but the right to vote is restricted to the parliamentary members.

Within the last couple of years guests from other international and Nordic organisations have been able to take part in the debates at the Session. Visitors from the Baltic States and Northwest Russia are those who take the greatest advantage of this opportunity.

The Presidential country is the host

The country which holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council hosts the Session, which is held in that country's parliament building, except in Iceland where the parliamentary building is not big enough.

At the beginning of the Session, the prime ministers give an account on the plans for Nordic inter-governmental co-operation in the coming year. The prime minister for the country which will hold the Presidency in the next year is responsible for this report.

Usually all of the Nordic prime ministers attend and take part in the subsequent parliamentary debate.

Foreign, defence and other ministers at the Session

The foreign and defence ministers also give a report on Nordic co-operation in their areas. These are also discussed with the politicians.

The attendance of other ministers with responsibility for different political policy areas often depends on what subjects will be debated. This, in turn, is determined by which proposals the members of the Nordic Council present during the year, and what it has been agreed will be decided on at the Session.

The proposals approved by the Session are sent to the Nordic Council of Ministers or to the Nordic government for implementation.

The Nordic ministers for co-operation attend the whole Session and hold a welcome question time when MPs can raise all kinds of issues affecting Nordic co-operation.

Presidential election

The President and Vice-President for Nordic parliamentary co-operation are elected for the coming year.

The members of the Council's Presidium (the political leadership of the Nordic Council and the highest decision-making body between Sessions) as well as members of the various committees for policy questions are also elected at the Session.

Nordic prizes are awarded

The Nordic Council Prizes in literature, music, film and for nature and the environment are awarded during the Session. This usually takes place during a festive and formal evening event.

Nordic Summit

Taking advantage of the fact that almost all Nordic politicians are gathered in one place, a number of other meetings are held in conjunction with the Session. Since 2006 the Session has opened, for example, with a Nordic Summit when the prime ministers and MPs discuss burning questions such as globalisation and the climate threat.

Nordic Youth Council opens

The coming generation of Nordic politicians in the Nordic Youth Council have their own Session just before the Nordic Council when they take up their position on proposals for Nordic co-operation. The youth representatives pursue these issues at the Nordic Council Session where they have the opportunity of speaking, taking part in discussions and making proposals.

Ministerial meetings

The Nordic prime ministers hold their autumn meeting and their annual meeting with the heads of the autonomous areas immediately prior to the start of the Session.

The Nordic prime ministers also hold a meeting with the prime ministers from the Baltic States.

The Nordic foreign ministers usually hold a ministerial meeting. The ministers of finance ministers of finance and ministers for various policy areas which will be under debate at the Session, usually also avail themselves of the opportunity to meet and make decisions on Nordic co-operation. The ministers for Nordic co-operation normally hold a couple of meetings in conjunction with the Session.

The Nordic MPs, represented by the Nordic Council's Presidium, meet both the prime ministers and the foreign ministers to discuss matters of particular importance.

Meetings with other politicians

The Nordic MPs usually meet with their colleagues from the Baltic Assembly, which is the parliamentary assembly for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with Russian MPs and with politicians who represent co-operative bodies from other regions in Europe.

Press conferences and seminars

During the Session press conferences, lunch seminars and meetings are arranged with organisations such as the Norden Association. There are normally also opportunities for informal networking during the evenings.