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The Ultimate Balancing Act
THE ULTIMATE BALANCING ACT WORK AND FAMILY IN THE NORDIC REGION THINK-PIECE 1 THE ULTIMATE BALANCING ACT Work and family in the Nordic region Iselin Løvslett Danbolt ISBN 978-92-893-4752-5 (PRINT) ISBN 978-92-893-4753-2 (PDF) http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/ANP2016-780 ANP 2016:780 © Nordic Council of Ministers 2016 Layout: Gitte Wejnold Photo: norden.org, unsplash.com, Scanpix Print: Rosendahls Copies: 160 54 7 1 45 TRYKSAG Printed in Denmark This publication has been published with financial support by the Nordic Council of Ministers. However, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or recommendations of the Nordic Council of Ministers. www.norden.org/nordpub Nordic co-operation Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. Nordic Council of Ministers Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K +45 33 96 02 00 www.norden.org 2 THE ULTIMATE BALANCING ACT WORK AND FAMILY IN THE NORDIC REGION THINK-PIECE ISELIN LØVSLETT DANBOLT 4 CONTENTS -
Contents NDPHS Continues Efforts to Have Health Prioritised on The
Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health A partnership committed to and Social Well-being achieving tangible results e-Newsletter Issue 1/2012 Contents Dear Reader… NDPHS Continues Efforts to It is widely recognised that health is crucial in the context of the ageing Have Health Prioritised on society and challenges posed to sustainable economic development. Yet, the Regional Agenda 1 the importance of health is not properly reflected on the regional coopera- tion agenda. One example is the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic The Demography Challenge Sea Region (EUSBSR), where health has been listed as a sub-priority. Since in the Baltic Sea Region 2 last year our Partnership has taken several actions to address this problem Making Success Stories and our efforts will continue. This issue of our e-newsletter will give you with Russian Partners 4 some details on this. Following the above is an article about the 9th Baltic Sea States Summit rd 3 EUSBSR Annual Forum held in May 2012 in Stralsund, Germany and, more specifically, its plenary Discusses the Review of the session on the impact of demographic change. The Prime Ministers had Strategy Action Plan 5 a stimulating debate on main challenges posed by the demographic change PrimCareIT: Counteracting and discussed policies to induce win-win situations for the future. Brain Drain and Professional You will also find two articles about the 3rd Annual Forum of the EU Strat- Isolation of Health 6 egy for the Baltic Sea Region held a few days ago in Denmark. Many interest- ing events took place during it, which provided an opportunity to discuss the progress so far and the way forward. -
Fredrik Reinfeldt
2014 Press release 03 June 2014 Prime Minister's Office REMINDER: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to Harpsund On Monday and Tuesday 9-10 June, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will host a high-level meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at Harpsund. The European Union needs to improve job creation and growth now that the EU is gradually recovering from the economic crisis. At the same time, the EU is facing institutional changes with a new European Parliament and a new European Commission taking office in the autumn. Sweden, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands are all reform and growth-oriented countries. As far as Sweden is concerned, it will be important to emphasise structural reforms to boost EU competitiveness, strengthen the Single Market, increase trade relations and promote free movement. These issues will be at the centre of the discussions at Harpsund. Germany, the UK and the Netherlands, like Sweden, are on the World Economic Forum's list of the world's ten most competitive countries. It is natural, therefore, for these countries to come together to compare experiences and discuss EU reform. Programme points: Monday 9 June 18.30 Chancellor Merkel, PM Cameron and PM Rutte arrive at Harpsund; outdoor photo opportunity/door step. Tuesday 10 June 10.30 Joint concluding press conference. Possible further photo opportunities will be announced later. Accreditation is required through the MFA International Press Centre. Applications close on 4 June at 18.00. -
The Nordic Council of Ministers: Aspirations for More Political Relevance
Politics and Governance (ISSN: 2183–2463) 2020, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages 11–20 DOI: 10.17645/pag.v8i4.3381 Article The Nordic Council of Ministers: Aspirations for More Political Relevance Tobias Etzold Department of Historical and Classical Studies, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; E-Mail: [email protected] Submitted: 19 June 2020 | Accepted: 28 August 2020 | Published: 3 November 2020 Abstract Due to changing circumstances and new challenges, the Nordic Council of Ministers underwent an incremental process of change and some modest transformation since the 1990s. However, there has never been a major overhaul of structures and contents owing to considerable inertia. The most recent modernisation process, aiming at more political relevance and flexibility, has been ambitious but whether it has been a success remains unclear thus far. Weaknesses and limits in cooper- ation in the Nordic Council of Ministers are obvious, i.e., no majority voting or ‘opting-out’ system, a lack in supra-national structures and policies and no common immigration, foreign, security and EU policies. Nonetheless, the organisation has at least some relevance and meaning for the Nordic countries and the potential to promote and facilitate cooperation in policy areas in which common interests exist, such as environment, climate, research and social affairs. Therefore, rather than constituting a common political order of its own, Nordic cooperation, as it is conducted within the Nordic Council of Ministers, is best characterized by differentiated integration, promoting full integration only to a limited extent but respecting integration to different extents and speeds by fostering cooperation and coordination of certain policies where possible and desired. -
Nordic Security and Defence Cooperation: Differentiated Integration in Uncertain Times
Politics and Governance (ISSN: 2183–2463) 2020, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages 100–109 DOI: 10.17645/pag.v8i4.3338 Article Nordic Security and Defence Cooperation: Differentiated Integration in Uncertain Times Rikard Bengtsson Department of Political Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden; E-Mail: [email protected] Submitted: 12 June 2020 | Accepted: 28 August 2020 | Published: 3 November 2020 Abstract A decade ago, Nordic cooperation on security and defence matters gained momentum, having been largely absent from the map of Nordic cooperation during the Cold War and its aftermath. This article analyses developments along three di- mensions of Nordic cooperation: military defence (focusing on the Nordic Defence Cooperation), civil security (in the form of the ‘Haga’ process), and political cooperation (through the implementation of the Stoltenberg report). Three observa- tions stand out as a result: First, that the three dimensions are intimately related against the background of a common Nordic conceptualization of security; second, that there is simultaneously variation in significant respects (such as driving forces, scope, and degree of institutionalization); and third, that Nordic security and defence cooperation has developed in the context of European and transatlantic security dynamics and cooperation. The second part of the analysis seeks to interpret this picture from the analytical perspective of differentiated integration. The article ends with a set of reflections on the future of Nordic security and defence cooperation in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Keywords civil security; cooperation; defence; differentiated integration; Haga process; NORDEFCO; Nordic; security; Stoltenberg Issue This article is part of the issue “Rediscovering Nordic Cooperation” edited by Anne Elizabeth Stie (University of Agder, Norway) and Jarle Trondal (University of Agder, Norway/ARENA University of Oslo, Norway). -
SWEDEN Aras Lindh
★ SWEDEN Aras Lindh Mind Rather Than Heart in EU Politics Highlights ★ The Swedish decision to enter the EU was not based so much on the hope of gaining March 2016 March something, but rather on the fear of being left out if it did not. It was probably the desire for a ‘negative safety’ that made the Swedes vote in favour of the EU as the alternative cost would probably have been too high. ★ Many think that their cutting-edge welfare system and high living standards could be lost as a result of deeper EU integration. This hesitancy towards the EU explains a relative knowledge discrepancy on the EU in the country. Overall, Sweden displays both a degree of satisfaction with its current level of integration (especially its non-membership to the Eurozone) and a diffuse euroscepticism across the society. ★ To strengthen the EU’s image in Sweden requires concrete projects, rather than abstract symbols. A stronger Common European Asylum System would be a prime example of such a project. Overall, any policy from the EU which would positively affect Swedes could decrease scepticism. BUILDING BRIDGES SERIES PAPER Building Bridges project This paper is part of the Building Bridges Paper Series. The series looks at how the Member States perceive the EU and what they expect from it. It is composed of 28 contributions, one from each Member State. The publications aim to be both analytical and educational in order to be available to a wider public. All the contributions and the full volume The European Union in The Fog are available here. -
The Nordic Council – Our Council the Nordic Council – Our Council © Nordic Council, 2012 ISBN 978-92-893-2372-7 DOI ANP 2012:737
The Nordic Council – our council The Nordic Council – our council © Nordic Council, 2012 ISBN 978-92-893-2372-7 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/ANP2012-737 ANP 2012:737 Editors: Silje Bergum Kinsten and Heidi Orava Design: Jette Koefoed Photos: Karin Beate Nøsterud; Ingram; Image Select; Ojo; Søren Sigfusson; Ludwig Ehlers/Landesarchiv Berlin; Photos from “50 år Nordisk Råd 1952–2002” Copies: 1500 Print: Rosendahls-Schultz Grafisk, Albertslund Printed in Denmark Nordic co-operation Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collabora- tion, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. Nordic Council Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K Telefon (+45) 3396 0200 www.norden.org The Nordic Council – our council Council Nordic The This brochure will provide you with a deeper insight into what the Nordic Council is all about. You will discover that the work of the Council exerts an influence on your life. Perhaps you would like to help exert influence on the Council. 4 The Nordic Council – our council Introduction 7 Out of the ashes 8 The first steps 10 Timeline 10 What issues does the Nordic Council address? 14 Closer to the people 17 Facts about the Nordic Council 22 It is also important that the people of the Region continue to consider the Council relevant to their lives. -
The History of Nordic Labour Law
The Roots – the History of Nordic Labour Law Ole Hasselbalch 1 Scandinavian Societies and Law-Tradition …………………………….. 12 2 Relics of Feudalism and Rise of the Individual Contract ……………… 14 3 The Collective Dimension ………………………………………………... 15 3.1 Denmark ……………………………………………………………. 16 3.2 Norway ……………………………………………………………… 18 3.3 Sweden ……………………………………………………………… 19 3.4 Finland ……………………………………………………………… 21 4 State Intervention in Labour Relations………………………………….. 22 4.1 Welfare Legislation and Social Security ……………………………. 22 4.2 Rise of Responsibility for Social Security on The Job ……………… 24 4.2.1 Health and Safety at Work and Industrial Injuries …………. 24 4.2.2 Loss of Wages During Employment ………………………. 26 4.2.3 Unemployment and Protection Against Dismissals ……….. 28 4.2.3.1 Protection Against Dismissals ……………………. 28 4.2.3.2. Unemployment Insurance ………………………... 29 4.2.3.3 Labour Exchange ………………………………… 29 5 Integration: Co-Influence and Co-Determination ……………………… 30 6 Turbulence: Growing State-Intervention, Internationalisation, Market-orientation and Reorganisation ………… 33 References in Non-Scandinavian Languages …………………………..………. 35 © Stockholm Institute for Scandianvian Law 1957-2009 12 Ole Hasselbalch: The Roots: The History of Nordic Labour Law The term “the Nordic model” has been widely used by international labour lawyers to indicate special features which characterise Scandinavian labour law. This article outlines the history of the Nordic model, thereby demonstrating the reasons for using the term Nordic Model to indicate common Scandinavian trends in this particular field of law. 1 Scandinavian Societies and Law-Tradition Traditionally, the Scandinavian countries have close mutual ties, which is owing to their common cultural and linguistic background. To a large degree their social development have followed identical paths too. Thus Scandinavia today forms a common area of language and culture and the various functions of societies are based on a common tradition. -
Nordic Communities a Vision for the Future
Nordic Communities a vision for the future Johan Strang Nordic Communities a vision for the future Johan Strang Centre for nordiC StudieS, univerSity of HelSinki 1 Content Foreword 4 Summary 6 1 · The Nordic community and Nordic Communities 16 i. The Nordic Region in the world and in Europe 20 ii. The Stoltenberg and Wetterberg models 23 iii. Nordic Communities 25 iv. The democratic challenge 27 v. The Nordic community 29 2 · Key policy areas 34 i. Foreign and defence policy 36 ii. EU policy 40 iii. Economic and welfare policy 42 iv. Environmental and energy policy 46 v. Research, innovation, education and training 50 vi. Culture and language 52 vii. Law and legislation 55 2 3 · Official Nordic co-operation 60 i. The Nordic Council of Ministers 63 ii. The Nordic Council 69 iii. A Nordic network think tank 74 iv. The Nordic institutions 76 v. Unofficial and official co-operation 77 vi. Informal co-operation at the official level 78 4 · The Nordic brand 84 List of people involved in the re search for this book 90 3 Foreword Although commissioned to mark the 60th anniversary of the Nordic Council in 2012, this is no run-of-the-mill commemorative publica- tion. Rather than taking a retrospective approach, it looks to the future of Nordic co-operation, following up on the debate rekindled by the Swedish historian Gunnar Wetterberg’s book United Nordic Federation (2010) and the Stoltenberg report (2009) on working more closely together on foreign and security policy. In spring 2011, the Nordic Council commissioned the Centre for Nordic Studies (CENS) at the University of Helsinki to conduct a study and to pre- sent proposals for strengthening Nordic co-operation. -
IGO Codebook)
DIPLOMETRICS: Intergovernmental Organization Data Codebook (IGO Codebook) Version number: 3.16.16 Authors: Jonathan D. Moyer, PhD David K. Bohl Hanna Camp Sara Turner Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures | Josef Korbel School of International Studies University of Denver | 2201 South Gaylord Street | Denver, Colorado | 80201 Contact: [email protected] 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the people who assisted in coding Intergovernmental Organizations data. This project would not have been possible without their perseverance and hard work. We would also like to thank Professor Barry Hughes for his invaluable insight and support from conceptualization of this subject to data collection and analysis. Lastly, we extend our gratitude to the U.S. government for providing support for this project. 2 CONTENTS Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 2 Data Collection Process ........................................................................................................................ 4 The Goals of the Project ................................................................................................................... 4 Spatial-Temporal Domain ................................................................................................................. 4 Identifying Cases .............................................................................................................................. -
The Nordic Countries and the European Security and Defence
Introduction The European defence challenge for the Nordic region Alyson J. K. Bailes I. The role of this introduction The European Defence and Security Policy (ESDP), launched by the European Union (EU) in its historic decisions at Helsinki in December 1999,1 remains the subject of widely varying judgements, views and aspirations throughout Europe and, indeed, among many of Europe’s partners. Its initial ambition was modest: to provide an alternative means of carrying out a specific range of military crisis management tasks under the EU’s own command. Nonetheless, it has evoked fears, ranging from the risk that it could undermine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to that of an inevitable slide towards an integrated ‘European army’. Conversely, and although the EU member states have tried to goad each other into better defence performance with the help of ESDP targets, the continued shrinkage of most EU defence budgets exposes the seemingly unbridgeable gap between European ambition and performance. The question of the ESDP’s finalité—where the policy is actually supposed to be leading, ranging along interlinked spectrums from occasional military cooperation to complete guaranteed defence and from pure intergovernmentalism to collective European control of military assets—produces the most widely varying answers, and feelings, of all.2 The ESDP is thus a challenge for all European states; but the story of how the five Nordic countries, singly and collectively, have participated in and adapted to it since its birth (and gestation period) is the particular subject of the chapters in parts I–IV of this volume. This introduction aims both to provide the starting point for appreciating the subsequent material and to anticipate an issue to which some of the closing contributions return. -
1991-2016 and the Way Ahead
1991-2016 AND THE WAY AHEAD In 2016, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the restoration of independence of the three Baltic States and the re-establishment of regular, multifaceted Baltic-Nordic cooperation ties. A quarter of a century is an important milestone calling for reflection and evaluation: How far has the cooperation advanced? What is its track record? What achievements has it yielded? And, perhaps most pertinent of all, where do we want to go from here and how do we envisage our next twenty-five years together? Contents 4-9 Introduction 10-59 Interview 60-68 Photo In 2016, we celebrated the 25th anniversary H.E. Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs, Interventions were also made Mr. Tomas Bertelman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia; by the following guests: former Ambassador of Sweden to Latvia (2000-2003); of the restoration of independence of the former Ambassador of Sweden to Russia (2009-2012) three Baltic States and the re-establishment Mr. Dagfinn Høybråten, of regular, multifaceted Baltic-Nordic Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers; Ms. Elita Cakule, Head of International Department at the Association of Local and Regional Authorities in Oslo cooperation ties. Mr. Petras Auštrevičius, Member of the European Parliament, Lithuania; Ms. Rikke Helms, first director of the Danish Cultural Institute in Latvia A quarter of a century is an important Mr. Carl Bildt, milestone calling for reflection and former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden; H.E. Ms. Kirsten Malling Biering, Ambassador of Denmark to France; first resident ambassador in Latvia (1991-1995) evaluation: How far has the cooperation Mr.