Nordic co-operation on justice issues

A challenge shared by the Nordic countries is combating and preventing serious cross-border crime that exploits the region’s high level of integration and openness. Human trafficking, drug trafficking, and violence are incredibly damaging to society, as is cyber crime such as the sexual abuse of children. Strengthened police co-operation between the Nordic countries is one of several joint measures to stem this trend. A challenge shared by several of the Nordic countries is dealing with crime that originates in radicalisation and violent extremism.

The justice sector is also monitoring how digitalisation is affecting the public sector and judiciary, both administratively and with regard to legal security for both citizens and businesses.

In a Nordic Region where individuals can choose where they want to live and work, family relationships are unaffected by borders. Within the justice sector, there is ongoing co-operation within family law, whereby the countries share their experiences and discuss problems associated with families moving between the Nordic countries.

Nordic Council of Ministers for Justice Affairs (MR-JUST)

The Nordic ministers for justice - the Nordic Council of Ministers for Justice Affairs (MR-JUST) - meet once a year. The meeting of the ministers for justice is prepared by a committee of senior officials from the various Nordic ministries for justice. The committee of senior officials (EK-JUST)​​​​​​ is responsible for preparing for the meetings and implementing and following up on the decisions made by the ministers. The committee of senior officials usually meets three times a year.

Nordic-Baltic co-operation

The Nordic justice sector also works with its Baltic counterparts. Every year, a Nordic-Baltic meeting for the ministers for justice is held where the ministers discuss justice issues that are relevant to both the Nordic and the Baltic countries.  A Nordic-Baltic working group made up of officials from the Nordic and Baltic ministries for justice prepares these meetings and meets twice a year.

Project funding

The justice sector can also award funding for projects that promote Nordic co-operation within the scope of the areas that the justice sector is responsible for and which have Nordic added value. Some of this funding is also available for Nordic-Baltic co-operation.

The action plan describes how the Nordic Council of Ministers will work to achieve the objectives of the vision through a series of initiatives linked to the vision’s three strategic priorities: a green Nordic Region, a competitive Nordic Region, and a socially sustainable Nordic Region. There are 12 objectives linked to the strategic priorities. The strategic priorities and objectives govern all the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers over the next four years. The action plan is divided into 12 sections, each one linked to one of the 12 objectives.