Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2020

Fælles om fremtidens løsninger

Fælles om fremtidens løsninger

Photographer
Scanpix.dk

Working Together on Solutions for the Future. This is both the title and the ambition for the joint Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2020. The presidency seeks to implement the Nordic Council of Ministers’ new Vision 2030, which is to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.

Working Together on Solutions for the Future. This is both the title and the ambition for the joint Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2020. The presidency seeks to implement the Nordic Council of Ministers’ new Vision 2030, which is to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.

The new presidency will seek to consolidate social cohesion and co-operation and to make the most of the region’s potential. It underpins the three strategic priorities outlined by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision – a green, competitive, and socially sustainable Nordic Region – all of which also contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“In our presidency, we will focus on working together to find new solutions that make the Nordic Region a leader in the climate agenda while remaining competitive and socially sustainable. These are the objectives of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ new vision, and we must deliver on them. Young people in particular have pushed the climate up the agenda, and so we must listen to them and act now. We owe it to them. It’s their future we’re building,” says Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. 

The green Nordic Region

The Nordic Region is recognised worldwide as a guarantor of ambitious and effective sustainability initiatives and climate solutions. The presidency for 2020 will continue and refine co-operation on the environment, nature and climate in order to make the region even greener and, in particular, to lead from the front at international level, e.g. promoting biodiversity and reducing plastic and waste in the world's oceans. 

Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark

“In our presidency, we will focus on working together to find new solutions that make the Nordic Region a leader in the climate agenda while remaining competitive and socially sustainable. These are the objectives of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ new vision, and we must deliver on them. Young people in particular have pushed the climate up the agenda, and so we must listen to them and act now. We owe it to them. It’s their future we’re building.”

Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen

The competitive Nordic Region

The presidency will continue to enhance the position of the Nordic Region as the most wide-ranging form of regional co-operation with cross-border freedom of movement in the world. Research, innovation, investments and digitalisation will make companies as competitive as possible during the green transition and promote circular, climate-friendly solutions that will benefit the Nordic Region and the rest of the world. Young people are important in this context as well. Greenland’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation Vittus Qujaukitsoq said: “Nordic co-operation is important for Greenland, as we share both our history and values with the Nordic Region. So we see it as important that Greenland participates in the upcoming presidency in 2020. As part of the kingdom’s presidency projects, we will focus on the business opportunities for young people in Nordic coastal communities.”

Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen, Minister for Nordic Co-operation, the Faroe Islands

Nordic cohesion is based on shared values such as trust, democracy and gender equality. However, this cohesion is threatened by encroaching globalisation. The programme for the presidency sees education and culture as positive platforms for efforts to preserve and enhance social cohesion and knowledge of the Nordic languages. Sustainable communities of young people will be invaluable in this context. Nordic co-operation must benefit everybody in the region – young and old, haves and have nots.

The socially sustainable Nordic Region

Nordic cohesion is based on shared values such as trust, democracy and gender equality. However, this cohesion is threatened by encroaching globalisation. The programme for the presidency sees education and culture as positive platforms for efforts to preserve and enhance social cohesion and knowledge of the Nordic languages. Sustainable communities of young people will be invaluable in this context. Nordic co-operation must benefit everybody in the region – young and old, haves and have nots.

Vittus Qujaukitsoq, Minister for Nordic Co-operation, Greenland

Working Together on Solutions for the Future is not just the title of the programme for the presidency in 2020. It is also exactly what Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the three constituent parts of the kingdom, are doing for the presidency of the entire Nordic Region. Fortunately, this is not the first occasion that the three nations have successfully worked together which, according to the Faroe Islands, is a good reason to be optimistic about 2020. 

“The Faroe Islands shared the Danish presidency in both 2005 and 2010. It went well and this is a natural continuation of our work. This time we’re taking on a greater share and will be at the forefront at a political level in parts of the sectors for fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture, food, and forestry. In this way, we’re showing once more that we’re both able and willing to get involved in Nordic co-operation on an equal footing with our Nordic neighbours,” says Bárður á Steig Nielsen, Faroese Minster for Nordic Co-operation.

Fælles om fremtidens løsninger

Working Together on Solutions for the Future is not just the title of the programme for the presidency in 2020. It is also exactly what Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, the three constituent parts of the kingdom, are doing for the presidency of the entire Nordic Region. Fortunately, this is not the first occasion that the three nations have successfully worked together which, according to the Faroe Islands, is a good reason to be optimistic about 2020. 

“The Faroe Islands shared the Danish presidency in both 2005 and 2010. It went well and this is a natural continuation of our work. This time we’re taking on a greater share and will be at the forefront at a political level in parts of the sectors for fisheries, aquaculture, agriculture, food, and forestry. In this way, we’re showing once more that we’re both able and willing to get involved in Nordic co-operation on an equal footing with our Nordic neighbours,” says Bárður á Steig Nielsen, Faroese Minster for Nordic Co-operation.