Nordic co-operation on justice affairs

Nordic inter-governmental co-operation in the field of justice is lead by the Nordic ministers for justice, who together make up the Nordic Ministerial Council for Justice Affairs.

The ministers meet once a year to discuss and make decisions in areas of justice where co-operation generates Nordic synergies, i.e. where the countries can achieve more together than on our own. The ministers for justice are assisted by a committee of senior officials.

The Nordic Committee of Senior Officials for Justice Affairs consists of representatives from all the Nordic countries and meets at least three times per year. The committee takes care of the practical work and preparations for the ministerial meetings.

The Secretariat to the Nordic Council of Ministers in Copenhagen is responsible for the day-to-day running of Nordic inter-governmental co-operation. The Secretariat is also responsible for implementing decisions once they have been taken.

The Nordic ministers for justice also work with their Baltic colleagues from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with whom they meet roughly once every other year to discuss joint priorities. Nordic-Baltic co-operation also takes place among senior officials by way of a Nordic-Baltic contact group (NBCG).

Objectives and visions

Nordic co-operation on justice adheres to a general policy framework adopted by the ministers for justice in their co-operation programme, which is supplemented by specific initiatives and the targets set in the annual programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.