nordic co-operation nordic Nordic Co-operation nordic co-operation nordic Nordic Co-operation © Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen 2011 ANP 2010:792 ISBN 978-92-893-2179-2 Redaktion: Klaus Munch Haagensen, PUB/Communications Department Layout: Jette Koefoed, PUB/Communications Department Translation: Tam McTurk Cover photo: Karin Beate Nøsterud Copies: 5000 Print: Arco Grafisk, Skive Printed on environmentally friendly paper This publication can be ordered on www.norden.org order Other Nordic publications are available at www.norden.org/publications Printed in Denmark MILJØMÆ K R IS K D N I R N O G N 541 006 Tryksag Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council Ved Stranden 18 Ved Stranden 18 DK-1061 Copenhagen K DK-1061 Copenhagen K Phone (+45) 3396 0200 Phone (+45) 3396 0400 www.norden.org 2 nordic co-operation nordic co-operation nordic 4 Nordic Co-operation Affinity Education, research and innovation Climate, environment and energy Welfare and culture International commitment nordic co-operation nordic FACTS Formal co-operation between the Nordic countries is one of the oldest forms of multilateral political partnership anywhere in the world. Rooted in the geographical, historical and cultural affinity between the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) and three autonomous territories (Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland), it is one of the most comprehensive and popular forms of regional part- nership in the world. The work of the Council and of the Council of Ministers revolves around a common understanding of democracy and shared social values. 6 Affinity The unique Nordic welfare model is issues serve as the foundation for MPs spearhead the work, which based on cultural affinity and on a the strong international commit- is funded by taxes from Denmark, set of shared values, which it is our ment shown by both the Nordic Finland, Iceland, Norway and Swe- duty to uphold. The prime ministers Council and the Nordic Council of den. The autonomous territories have reasserted a strong desire to Ministers. (Greenland, the Faroe Islands and maintain this affinity and to further Åland) also play an important part. enhance it in the globalised econo- Working together does not just put Official co-operation costs approx. my. They hold regular meetings with core Nordic values on the inter- DKK 35.00 per citizen p.a. MPs from throughout the Region national agenda, it also helps to to discuss how their countries can make the Region more visible and The work of the Council and of best respond to the challenges highlights the unique nature of our the Council of Ministers revolves posed by globalisation and benefit partnership, which provides ben- around a common understanding from the potential it offers. efits for citizens and users – both in of democracy and shared social the Region and beyond. values, which help to maintain and The PMs have put their political foster dynamic development, to pro- weight behind a closer focus on Inter-governmental co-operation is mote freedom of movement and to Nordic partnerships. The main prior- the remit of the Council of Ministers, enhance skills, competitiveness and ities are: climate, environment and inter-parliamentary work the remit cohesion throughout the Region. energy; education and research; of the Nordic Council. The ministers and welfare and culture. These core for Nordic co-operation and elected Halldór Ásgrímsson Jan-Erik Enestam Sectretary General Director Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council nordic co-operation nordic Education, research and innovation Although the national education the other Nordic and Baltic coun- mobility for researchers and raising systems and business and industry tries. The Council of Ministers has the Region’s profile in European sectors differ, the Nordic countries also launched the Nordic Masters research partnerships. work together in many spheres, Programme, which links university learning from each other’s experi- courses from at least three coun- Innovation ences. This collaboration includes tries, facilitating the creation of elite The main priority for Nordic glo- support for joint projects and activi- study programmes that would not balisation work is to strengthen the ties, the publication of reports and otherwise be available. countries’ global competitiveness. the establishment of networks. The Council of Ministers’ publications general aim is to achieve results The freedom to study anywhere in include Nordic Innovation Monitor that the individual countries would the Region, an achievement which and Nordic Globalisation Barom- be incapable of accomplishing on has helped create a joint education eter, which show how the countries their own. area and facilitate the free flow of are faring in the global economy. knowledge between the countries, From primary school to is one very tangible outcome of co- In general, both the Council and the university operation. Council of Ministers endeavour to Nordic co-operation on education improve growth conditions for en- focuses on promoting creativity, Research trepreneurs, mainly through efforts innovation and entrepreneurship, Broad-based co-operation on re- to promote freedom of movement in and on improving retention rates. search includes the Nordic Top-level the Region. Supporting user-driven One priority for the Nordic Council Research Initiative, the largest-ever innovation is another top priority. Culture & Education Committee is research and innovation programme to stress the importance of creative in the Region, which involves the On the whole, the Nordic coun- subjects, while the Council of Min- best elements of Nordic research, tries strive to ensure that both the isters works on a range of initiatives business and industry in the search education and business sectors are from primary school to university for global climate, environmental well-positioned for the future – by level. and energy solutions. The first of swapping information and discuss- a series of programmes under the ing experiences, benchmarking The Council of Ministers runs the auspices of this initiative com- against each others’ performances educational programme Nord- menced in 2010. and launching collective initiatives plus, which also covers the Baltic and activities. countries. Each year, Nordplus Other priorities for the Council provides thousands of schoolchil- of Ministers include e-science – dren, students and adults with the one tangible example being the opportunity to learn more about optimisation of computing power the society, language and culture of via fibre-optic networks – greater 8 nordic co-operation nordic FACTS Nordic Council The Nordic Council is the official inter-parliamentary body. Formed in 1952, it has 87 elected members from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, as well as the three autonomous territories (Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland). The members are all national MPs nominated by the party groups in their home parliaments. There are no direct elections to the Council. It is run by a Presidium and convenes for an annual autumn meeting called the Session, which passes recom- mendations to the national gov- ernments. The ongoing political work is conducted in committees and party groups. The right to study in other Nordic countries is a prime example of the benefits of co-operation. 9 FACTS co-operation nordic Nordic Council of Ministers The Council of Ministers is the official inter-governmental body. The prime ministers have overall responsibility for its work. In practice, this responsibility is delegated to the ministers for Nordic co- operation and the Nordic Co-operation Committee, which co-ordinates the day-to-day work. Despite its name, the Council of Ministers, which was founded in 1971, consists of several councils. These councils meet a couple of times a year. At present, there are 11 of them, including the co-operation ministers. Decisions taken by the Council of Ministers must be unanimous. Individual cases are prepared, processed and followed up by various committees of senior officials from the member states. The Helsinki Treaty: the cornerstone The Helsinki Treaty regulates official co-operation between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. It was signed on 23 March 1962 and came into force on 1 July 1962. The purpose of the agreement is described as follows: In the longer term, several “The High Contracting Parties shall endeavour to maintain and develop of the Nordic countries further co-operation between the Nordic countries in the legal, cultural, social and aim to free themselves economic fields, as well as in those of transport and communications and envi- from dependency on fossil ronmental protection. The High Contract- ing Parties should hold joint consultations fuels without compromis- on matters of common interest which are dealt with by European and other interna- ing standards of living or tional organisations and conferences.” competitiveness. 10 nordic co-operation nordic Climate, environment and energy The Nordic countries have a long Arctic have been important areas ity market to be one of the best in and fruitful tradition of working to- for collaboration, but activities now the world. gether on climate, environment and extend beyond Nordic frontiers. energy issues. The Council and the Climate change Council of Ministers both prioritise Several of the globalisation initia- The Nordic countries assume a great these areas strongly. The climate, tives address environmental and deal of responsibility in