Nordic Council

The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary co-operation. Formed in 1952, it has 87 members from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

Information

Nordic Council

Committees
Control Committee
The Control Committee exercises the parliamentary control over work financed by joint Nordic funds.
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Presidium
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.
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Committee for a Sustainable Nordic Region
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.
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Committee for Knowledge and Culture in the Nordic Region
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.
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Committee for Welfare 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.
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Committee for Growth and Development in the Nordic 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.
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Election Committee
The Election Committee prepares and submits proposals for the elections that are held during the plenary assembly.
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Party groups
Conservative Group
The Conservative Group has members representing 7 national member parties from the five Nordic countries and from the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.
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Conservative People's Party of Denmark - Det Konservative Folkeparti (KF)
Faroese People's Party - Fólkaflokkurin (Ff)
Conservative Party of Norway - Høyre (H)
Moderate Coalition of Åland
The Moderate Coalition of Åland is a centre-right political party. The party was founded in 1967 and adopted its current name in 2013 following a merger with the Moderates of Åland and the Non-aligned Coalition.
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The Moderate Party (M)
The Moderates are Sweden's second largest party, and the largest party in the conservative coalition alliance. The Moderates have held the prime minister post since 2006.
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Non-aligned Coalition (Obunden samling (ObS))
National Coalition Party of Finland - Kokoomus (saml)
Independence Party of Iceland - Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Sj.)
The Social Democrat Group
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.
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Norwegian Labour Party (A)
Finland's Social Democratic Party (sd)
The Social Democrats are one of Finland's largest parties. The most recent Social Democratic President of Finland was Tarja Halonen, 2000-2012.
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Javnaðarflokkurin (Jvfl.)
Social Democratic Party (Samfylkingin (Sf) – Iceland)
Siumut (S)
Åland Social Democrats (ÅSD)
Åland's Social Democratic party is the oldest party in Åland, with roots going back to 1906.
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Social Democrats (S)
The Danish party the Social Democrats was established in 1871. Today it is Denmark's second largest party.
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Swedish Social Democratic Party (S)
Centre Group
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.
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Flokkur fólksins – Flf (People’s Party, Iceland)
Miðflokkurinn – Mifl (Centre Party, Iceland)
Future of Åland (ÅF)
Åland Centre (ÅC)
Åland Centre has been the party in with the most seats (7 out of 30) in the Åland parliament since the election of 2011. Åland Centre has two ministerial posts in the Åland government.
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Atassut (A)
Björt framtíð (BF)
Centre Party of Finland (cent)
Centre Party (C)
The Centre Party of Sweden is a political party with a green liberal ideology. Important issues for the Centre Party are employment and business, the climate and welfare.
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De Gröna (gröna)
The Democrats (D)
The Democrats (Demokraatit) is a liberal political party in Greenland.
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Framsókn (Progress Party, Faroe Islands)
Progressive Party (Framsóknarflokkurinn (Frfl) – Iceland)
Hållbart Initiativ
Hållbart Initiativ
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Christian Democrats (KD)
The Christian Democrats are a political party in Sweden. The party stands for Christian values and profiles itself especially on issues related to health, care, family and business.
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Christian Democrats in Finland (kd)
Kristeligt Folkeparti (KrF)
Liberal Alliance (LA)
Swedish Liberal Party (L)
Liberals for Åland (Lib)
The Liberals for Åland is a liberal political party of the Åland Islands. In the elections in 2007 the party was the largest in Åland but in the last election in 2011 the party's electoral support dropped significantly. Today the party has 6 out of 30 seats in the Åland parliament and is in opposition.
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Green Party (MP)
The Green Party is a political party in Sweden that stands for green values. In addition to climate issues, the party also focuses on migration, education and employment.
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Miðflokkurin (Mfl.)
Moderaterne
Moderaterne (DK)
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Partii Inuit
Danish Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre (RV))
The Cooperation Party
Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) (sb)
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) (Sp)
Sjálvstýrisflokkurin (Sjfl.)
Swedish People's Party (sv)
The Swedish People's Party aims to preserve the status of the Swedish language in Finland and to take care of the interests of Finland-Swedes. The party has been in government since 1979 with one or two ministerial posts.
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Denmark's Liberal Party (Venstre) (V)
Venstre (V), The Liberal Party of Norway
Viðreisn – The Reform Party
Viðreisn (Vi) was founded on 24 May 2016. The party entered the Icelandic parliament for the first time after the general election in autumn 2016. Viðreisn is part of the Centre Group.
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Nordic Freedom
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.
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Danish People’s Party (DF)
True Finns (Sannfinländarna)
Sweden Democrats (SD)
The Sweden Democrats are a nationalistic and social conservative political party. The party was elected to the Swedish parliament for the first time in 2010.
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Nordic Green Left
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.
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The Alternative (ALT)
For Danes who want to build a green, sustainable, democratic, socially just and entrepreneurial world.
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Red-Green Alliance of Denmark (Enhedslisten EL)
Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA)
Red Party (R)
Socialist People's Party of Denmark (Socialistisk Folkeparti (SF))

Denmark’s red-green party, rooted in social justice and green action. The party fights for a sustainable and equal world based on values of solidarity and respect for nature.

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The Socialist Left Party of Norway (Sosialistisk Venstreparti (SV))
Tjóðveldi (T)
Left Alliance (vänst)
Left Alliance (fi. Vasemmistoliitto) is a left-wing party whose values are equality, freedom and sustainable development. It is the fifth largest party in Finland.
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Vänsterpartiet (V)
Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð (VG) – Iceland)
Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð (Left-Green Movement, Iceland)
Unaffiliated Political Parties (outside the main Party Groups)
Blue Reform
Danmarksdemokraterne
Danmarksdemokraterne
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The Progressive Party (FRP)
Hreyfingin (Hr)
Naleraq (GL)
The separatist political party of Greenland - Nunatta Qitornai
The separatist political party of Greenland - Nunatta Qitornai
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Nye Borgerlige (NB)
National Delegations
Delegation from Åland
The Danish Delegation
The Finnish Delegation
Delegation from the Faroe Islands
Delegation from Greenland
The Icelandic Delegation
National delegation secretariats
Below listed are the staff at the national delegation secretariats.
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The Norwegian Delegation
The Swedish Delegation
Programme for the Presidency
Presidency of the Nordic Council 2024
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.
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Programme for the Norwegian presidency of the Nordic Council 2023

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)

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Finnish programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council 2022
Danish programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council 2021
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.
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Icelandic programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council 2020
The three main priorities for the Icelandic Presidency are to protect democracy, preserve biodiversity and promote knowledge of the Nordic languages.
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The Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2019
Everyday life in the Nordic region - democracy and popular support
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Programme for the Norwegian presidency of the Nordic Council 2018

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.

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Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2017
Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2017
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Danmarks præsidentskabsprogram for Nordisk Råd 2016

Program for Danmarks præsidentskabsprogram for Nordisk Råd 2016

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Islands ordförandeskap i Nordiska rådet 2015
Program för Islands presidentskap i Nordiska rådet år 2015
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Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2014

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

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The Nordic Council Secretariat
The Nordic Council Secretariat prepares and follows up on the issues discussed by the Presidium, and by its committees and other organs.
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Nordic Council's office in Brussels
The Nordic Council has an office in Brussels, the purpose of which is to keep track of EU matters that may be of interest to the Nordic Council, as well as to maintain contact with Nordic stakeholders in Brussels. Contact between the European Parliament and the Nordic Council is especially important. The office opened in September 2017 and is staffed by one person.
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Nordic Youth Council (UNR)
The Nordic Youth Council is a forum for the youth wings of political organisations in the Nordic Region.
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