Global Ireland A Strategy for the Nordic Region Delivering for Ireland in the Nordic Region to 2025 i Global Ireland – A Strategy for the Nordic Region Delivering for Ireland in the Nordic Region to 2025 Cover Image: iiThe Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis from Malin Head in Inishowen, County Donegal. © Adam Rory Porter Photography @ The Northern Light Gallery www.inishowenart.ie ireland.ie Contents 03 Vision 04 Context 05 Strategic Objectives 06 I Ireland will work with Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway to advance and safeguard shared interests and values across the world, including in the UN and via European partnerships. 12 II Ireland will facilitate deepened trade, tourism and knowledge exchanges with the Nordic region consistent with our climate action agenda. 16 III Ireland will strengthen people-to-people links and links to the Global Irish community in the Nordic region. 18 IV Ireland will grow its reputation across the Nordic countries through enhanced promotion of culture, heritage and linkages. 22 V A strong Government-led Team Ireland will significantly increase its impact to 2025. 24 Infographic Facts about Ireland and the Nordics Global Ireland – A Strategy for the Nordic Region Delivering for Ireland in the Nordic Region to 2025 Stockholm, Sweden. © Getty Images 2 ireland.ie Vision Ireland will build on the strong foundations of our relationship with our Nordic neighbours, promoting our shared values to increase our influence and impact in the region. We will work with Nordic countries towards a safer, more just and sustainable future, supporting international peace and security and the rules-based international order. Our activism within the United Nations (UN), and membership of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) will drive cooperation, as will bilateral political, economic, cultural, and people- to-people exchanges and partnerships. Ireland will deepen research and scientific collaboration with the region and promote innovation and entrepreneurship to deliver on our objectives. 3 Global Ireland – A Strategy for the Nordic Region Delivering for Ireland in the Nordic Region to 2025 Context ‘Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global The population of the Nordic countries totals 27 million. It is a prosperous region with GDP per capita far exceeding Footprint to 2025’ aims to double the EU average. The Nordics are important export markets and economies that foster significant levels of Ireland’s impact and influence in entrepreneurship, innovation, and scientific research. the world by 2025. The widening As we face into a crucial decade in addressing the climate crisis, particularly in the post-COVID-19 world, we have and deepening of our unique both the responsibility and opportunity to work with our Nordic partners in promoting an economic model relationships with our Nordic that is sustainable and consistent with an imperative to neighbours is an integral part reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nordic countries are natural partners for Ireland in promoting a ‘green reset’ of that ambition. This Nordic both within the EU and internationally. Strategy focuses on enhanced Today, we enjoy strong partnerships with each of the Nordic countries. Like Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, bilateral and multilateral Sweden and Norway are relatively small countries, engagement with Denmark, with ambitions on the global stage. We share a strong commitment to human rights, to gender equality, to open Finland, Iceland, Norway, and economies, to innovation and to education. Along with Ireland, the Nordic countries all rank near the top of the Sweden and regional bodies United Nations Human Development Index. We have over the next four years. many shared strengths and have much to learn from one another. 4 ireland.ie Strategic To deliver on the ambition of ‘Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025’ and the vision for our relations with the Nordic region, we will pursue the following five Objectives strategic objectives: 1 Ireland will work with Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway to advance and safeguard shared interests and values across the world, including in the UN and via European partnerships. 5 2 Ireland will facilitate deepened Ireland will ensure a strong trade, tourism and knowledge Government-led Team Ireland exchanges with the Nordic region to significantly increase its consistent with our climate impact to 2025. action agenda. 4 3 Ireland will grow its reputation Ireland will strengthen across the Nordic countries through people-to-people links and links to enhanced promotion of culture, the Global Irish community in heritage and linkages. the Nordic region. 5 Global Ireland – A Strategy for the Nordic Region Delivering for Ireland in the Nordic Region to 2025 1 Ireland will work with Denmark, We will build a collective voice for a more secure, just, fair, and sustainable world. Finland, Sweden, Iceland and We will further deepen bilateral relationships and our Norway to advance and safeguard multilateral commitment and cooperation with the Nordic states; enhance mutual understanding of national priorities; shared interests and values across and broaden the space for joint initiatives. the world, including in the UN In many key EU policy areas, from Brexit to the EU budget, and via European partnerships. to the Digital Agenda, we are closely aligned with the Nordic EU states in our perspective and priorities, as we are with Norway and Iceland as members of the European Economic Area. In a rapidly evolving international environment, where many of these values are being called into question, it is more important than ever to stand united in defence of these shared values. Working together, we can amplify our voice on the world stage. Minister Coveney and Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide at Iveagh House in 2019. Ireland and Norway are working in close partnership as fellow members of the UN Security Council for the 2021-22 term. © Phil Behan / DFA 6 ireland.ie Building on a strong base, we will: » Forge stronger relations through a sustained » Encourage links between the Oireachtas and the programme of high-level political visits to and Nordic parliaments, as well as facilitating links from the region, once international travel between local authorities in Ireland and the Nordic conditions allow. Promote and cultivate countries. Establish links to Nordic-Baltic young engagements and consultations across Government parliamentarian networks. (including in matters of finance, environment, » climate mitigation and adaptation, energy, health, Encourage short-term exchanges of civil servants justice, and defence) at political and official level with the region and an Ireland/Nordic dimension between Ireland and the Nordic countries. to relevant Public Service leadership programmes. » » Build links with the Nordic Council and the Nordic Build on these shared interests in the EU and Council of Ministers particularly in areas such as develop better understanding of our respective children and youth affairs, the environment and priorities across all policy areas. climate, energy, sustainable development, research, » Work to maintain the strong support of our Nordic gender equality, disability and digitalisation. partners in relation to Brexit and our shared » As well as applying for Observer status to the Arctic interests in the future partnership of the EU Council, we will enhance Ireland’s engagement with the United Kingdom. on Arctic and Ocean issues across the range of » Actively engage in renewed support for the established fora, including through the OSPAR Northern Periphery and Arctic Area Programme (Oslo and Paris) Commission, the North East which promotes inter-regional cooperation on Atlantic Fisheries Commission and support for the shared challenges and opportunities. Network of Arctic Researchers in Ireland (NARI). » Engage further with Norway and Iceland in » Launch several new initiatives with Nordic countries strengthening our shared membership of the collectively or individually to promote the digital European Economic Area. agenda, scientific research and collaboration, excellence in innovation, sustainability and » Enhance opportunities for collaboration with economic competitiveness. Denmark and Finland in the seven country ‘Small Advanced Economies Initiative’ in the three pillars » Identify areas of collaboration and learning in terms of science and innovation, economics, and foreign of sustainable carbon-neutral cities. affairs and trade. » Initiate new links, and build on already established » Develop our shared interests in using digital links, between Irish and Nordic higher education technologies to improve the lives of citizens in institutes to deepen collaboration, including in the Europe. We will work, particularly with fellow context of Horizon Europe support. EU ‘Digital 9+’ member states, to promote a » Work in close partnership with Norway as fellow stronger, more coherent Digital Single Market, members of the UN Security Council for the 2021- facilitating growth and competitiveness. 22 term as we respond to and engage with global » Maintain our close cooperation on the multilateral challenges together. agenda in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals and the sustainability agenda. 7 Global Ireland – A Strategy for the Nordic Region Delivering for Ireland in the Nordic Region to 2025 » Develop our engagement with the Nordic Council » Explore the potential for joint visits and actions in and Nordic-Baltic 8 – including by