Nordic Council

The Control Committee exercises the parliamentary control over work financed by joint Nordic funds.

The Presidium, which represents the Nordic Council's political leadership, is responsible for the overall political matters, planning and budgets, as well as foreign and security policy parliamentary co-operation.

The Committee for a Sustainable Nordic Region works on issues and cases involving the protection of the environment and nature and on questions of natural resources – including how they are used in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Climate issues are also an important part of its work – including the consequences of climate change, which are having a particular impact on the most northerly parts of the Nordic Region, e.g. Greenland, where the ice is melting, but also have global consequences and cause climate refugees. The committee also deals with consumer rights, fisheries management, agricultural policy, food, nuclear safety, biodiversity and sustainability. In all of the areas mentioned above, the Committee for a Sustainable Nordic Region, focuses on both Nordic and global challenges and on potential solutions.

The Committee for Knowledge and Culture in the Nordic Region works on issues and cases affecting culture, research and education, primary and secondary schools, adult education and general education – including matters of language co-operation, new media, skills enhancement and innovation in study programmes. In many senses, education and information are the path to a good life – at work and at home for people of all ages – protecting them to an extent from the threat of unemployment, poverty, abuse, etc. The Committee also deals with civil society and the volunteer sector, both of which play important roles in a democratic welfare state. Sport, languages, film and media, general and diverse arts and culture, children’s and youth culture also fall within the remit of the Committee for Knowledge and Culture in the Nordic Region.

The Committee for Welfare in the Nordic Region focuses on the welfare model, and strives to find solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective. The Committee has a wide-ranging remit. It addresses topics like caring for children, young people and the elderly, disability, alcohol, drugs and other abuse issues, gender equality, civil liberties, democracy, human rights, the war on crime, integration, migration and refugees, housing policy and the indigenous peoples of the Region.

The Committee for Growth and Development in the Nordic Region deals with issues and questions relating to the labour market and the working environment, business, trade and industry, energy, freedom of movement, transport and transport safety. Promoting freedom of movement in the labour market is one of the most important aspects of Nordic co-operation and one of the keys to encouraging business and maintaining prosperity. Promoting freedom of movement helps to maintain the Nordic model, which is universally admired and makes it easier to study or work across borders. The Committee also deals with fiscal and economic policies, including the framework conditions for research, production and trade and – in the extension of this – freedom of movement, including in the labour market. The remit of the Committee for Growth and Development in the Nordic Region also includes regional and structural policy, communications and IT.

The Election Committee prepares and submits proposals for the elections that are held during the plenary assembly.

The Conservative Group has members representing 7 national member parties from the five Nordic countries and from the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

The Social Democrat Group is the largest party group on the Nordic Council and consists of representatives of parties in all the Nordic countries, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

The Centre Group in the Nordic Council represents members and substitutes from the Nordic countries, and from the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland, who belong to the central Liberal, Green and Christian Democratic member parties.

The Nordic Freedom Group on the Nordic Council brings together members and substitutes from Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The Group supports freedom, democracy and the idea of ​​independent nation states.

The Nordic Green Left party group on the Nordic Council consists of members and substitutes belonging to left-wing parties from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The Group has members from eight different parties.

Below listed are the staff at the national delegation secretariats.

Peace and Security in the Arctic is the name of the Icelandic programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council in 2024. The environment and gender equality are also highlighted in the programme.

The priorities for the Norwegian presidency are a safe, green and young Nordic Region. These are crucial areas in an era of war in Europe and the climate and energy crises. It’s more important than ever that we stand together as a strong Nordic community. Young people of today are the future and they’re key participants in our societies and democracies.

Programme for the Norwegian presidency of the Nordic Council 2023 (pdf)

The Danish Presidency 2021 focuses on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and on the removal of barriers to cross-border freedom of movement in the Nordic Region. The priorities for the Presidency will be Nordic co-operation on defence and contingency planning, the climate, tourism, and culture and language initiatives by and for young people.

The three main priorities for the Icelandic Presidency are to protect democracy, preserve biodiversity and promote knowledge of the Nordic languages.

Everyday life in the Nordic region - democracy and popular support

In a world marked by change and unrest, Nordic co-operation is more relevant than ever before. An unpredictable security scenario and a growing need to adapt to the challenges of the future mean that we in the Nordic region stand stronger together than individually.

Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2017

Program for Danmarks præsidentskabsprogram for Nordisk Råd 2016

Program för Islands presidentskap i Nordiska rådet år 2015

Programme for the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2014.