President of Nordic Council calls for closer relations with Germany
Nordiska rådets president Michael Tetzschner (andra från höger) och Nordiska ministerrådets stabschef Kenneth Broman (längst till höger) deltog i en tysk-nordisk konferens i Berlin den 27 september.
The President, speaking at the invitation of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, stressed the importance of Nordic-German partnership in a period when protectionism is on the rise.
“Recent events in the European Union – Brexit, anti-democratic trends in Poland and Hungary – and an unpredictable administration in the United States underline the importance of a strong relationship between the Nordic Region and Germany. In Germany we see a stable partner and friend who listens to us,” he said.
Close allies
Tetzschner noted that the Nordic countries and Germany are close allies in foreign, defence and security policy.
“I can say without a shadow of doubt that Germany is more important to the Nordic Region than ever before. Germany is not just one of our most important trading partners. We also share core values about modern democracy, values that are under threat in the current political climate.”
In calling for closer relations, Tetzschner said that experience shows that the Nordic countries exert greater influence when they consult each other in advance of international meetings.
“Pre-meetings and coordination should be the rule rather than the exception. The Nordic Region and Germany face more or less the same challenges. We should identify areas where we can learn from Germany – and Germany from us. Along with the Germany and like-minded partners we can be stronger. Imagine what we could achieve by working even more closely together,” the President said.
Longstanding partnership
The conference on Nordic-German co-operation came about as a result of longstanding co-operation between the German Institute for International and Security Affairs and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Both the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council were represented at the conference in Berlin on 27 September.
