Nordic Co-operation

The Control Committee exercises the parliamentary control over work financed by joint Nordic funds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Election Committee prepares and submits proposals for the elections that are held during the plenary assembly.

The Conservative Group has members representing 7 national member parties from the five Nordic countries and from the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Below listed are the staff at the national delegation secretariats.

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.

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)

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.

The three main priorities for the Icelandic Presidency are to protect democracy, preserve biodiversity and promote knowledge of the Nordic languages.

Everyday life in the Nordic region - democracy and popular support

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.

Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council 2017

Program for Danmarks præsidentskabsprogram for Nordisk Råd 2016

Program för Islands presidentskap i Nordiska rådet år 2015

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

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.

The Nordic Migrant Expert Forum is linked to the Nordic co-operation programme on the integration of refugees and immigrants and aims to provide a well-founded and diverse knowledge base for Nordic co-operation on integration.

The Committee for Co-operation is responsible for the day-to-day work of Nordic co-operation and for the Council of Ministers’ Secretariat in Copenhagen. It is composed of senior civil servants from the Nordic countries.

The Expert Group advises the Nordic Co-operation Committee and the Ministers for Co-operation on sustainable development.

An Advisory Expert Committee was established in conjunction with the adoption of the new Arctic Co-operation Programme in 2002. The Arctic Expert Committee is made up of Nordic members of the Arctic Council and representatives from the autonomous territories. In Nordic Council terms the Arctic Expert Committee will offer advice to the Ministers for Co-operation and the Nordic Co-operation Committee on matters relating to the Arctic.

The Freedom of Movement Council is a politically appointed body, set up by the Nordic governments to promote freedom of movement in the Nordic region for people and companies. It started work in 2014. The chair rotates annually between the national representatives in line with the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The chair and the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers have the overall responsibility for work on freedom of movement.

Efforts relating to freedom of movement are a key area of Nordic co-operation and are included in the efforts to fulfil the vision of the Nordic prime ministers to make the Nordic Region the most integrated region in the world. These efforts are overseen by the Freedom of Movement Council, which was established in January 2014. Based on the renewal of the Freedom of Movement Council’s mandate in 2018, there is a quantitative goal of removing between eight and twelve obstacles to freedom of movement each year within the labour market, society, education, and business and industry.

Informationstjenester under MR-SAM

NORDBUK is the Council of Ministers’ advisory and co-ordinating body for issues relating to children and young people.

This programme provides civil servants with the opportunity to learn how things are done in another Nordic country (or countries). A group consisting of one member each from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland allocates the money earmarked for the annual pool.

The Nordic Council of Ministers for Labour (MR-A) consists of the national ministers for employment and labour. Its remit covers intergovernmental co-operation on employment issues, the labour market, the working environment and labour law.

The Nordic countries work together on business, energy and regional policies in order to promote continued positive growth in the Region. The Nordic Council of Ministers for Sustainable Growth consists of ministers responsible for business, energy and regional policy.

On 22 June 2017, MR-SAM decided to establish an ad hoc council of ministers for digitalisation (MR-DIGITAL) for the period 2017 to 2024. MR-DIGITAL has one minister each from the Nordic countries; Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland. As well as the Baltic countries; Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The following ministers have been appointed to MR-DIGITAL

MR-FJLS consists of one council of ministers covering four policy areas: Fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, food, and forestry. The core tasks of MR-FJLS involve promoting the sustainable use of nature and genetic resources.

The Nordic governments' co-operation in the area of legislation is led by the Nordic ministers of justice who make up MR-JUST. Legislative co-operation is a tool for the Nordic countries in the work to promote the fundamental common principles of Nordic legislation.

The culture ministers from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland have the overarching responsibility for cultural co-operation within the Nordic Council of Ministers. The main objectives include encouraging diversity of cultural expression and promoting artists and their work.

Inter-governmental work on gender equality is the remit of MR-JÄM, which consists of the national ministers for gender equality. The shared culture, history and democratic traditions of the Nordic countries enable them to work closely and constructively together on gender equality.

The Council of Ministers for the Environment and Climate (MR-MK) is responsible for the Nordic inter-governmental co-operation on environmental issues. Its remit includes preserving and enhancing the quality of the environment and of life in the Region and exerting influence on regional and international co-operation.

The Nordic governments' co-operation within the social and health care sector is led by the Nordic ministers for health and social affairs who make up MR-S. Nordic co-operation within the social and health care area is based on common values which constitute the basis of the Nordic welfare model.

Inter-governmental co-operation on research and education is headed up by the education and research ministers, who make up the Nordic Council of Ministers for Education and Research (MR-U). The role of the Council of Ministers is to help ensure that the Nordic Region remains a world leader in knowledge and skills.

The remit of MR-FINANS consists of inter-governmental co-operation on economic and financial affairs. MR-FINANS meets once a year to discuss areas of fiscal policy where Nordic co-operation generates greater value than if the countries act alone.

The Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2024 seeks to make the Nordic Region safer, greener and freer and to help it become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.

Peace plays a key role in the programme for the Icelandic presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers and the ambition to make the Nordic Region green, competitive and socially sustainable.

Presidency programme 

The focus of Norway’s presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers will be on the three priority areas of a green, competitive, and socially sustainable Nordic Region. We will step up efforts relating to the vision, help to increase the pace of the green transition, and ensure that the Nordic Council of Ministers works effectively. Together we will build a stronger and greener Nordic Region.

Finland’s presidency programme is based on the vision for Nordic co-operation, which states that the Nordic Region shall be the most integrated and sustainable region in the world. Furthermore, the programme for 2021 draws up guidelines for active co-operation on the creation of a greener, more competitive, and more socially sustainable Nordic Region.

Working Together on Solutions for the Future is both the title and the ambition for the joint Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2020. The programme seeks to implement the Council of Ministers’ new Vision 2030, i.e. to make the Nordic region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.

Youth, sustainable tourism and the marine environment are the priority areas under the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2019. Nordic priorities for gender equality, digitisation, sustainable development and the UN's global goals are integrated into the projects of the Presidency.

An inclusive, sustainable, innovative, safe, and open Nordic Region forms the basis for Sweden’s presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2018. Digitisation is a recurrent theme throughout Sweden’s presidency programme.

Norway holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2017. The programme for the Norwegian presidency focuses on the Nordic Region in transition, the Nordic Region in the world and the Nordic Region in Europe.

Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2016. The main themes for the Presidency are water, nature and people.

Growth, welfare and values are the keywords of the 2015 Danish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The green economy and security for the Nordic welfare state will be in focus during the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2014.

HR & Admin has the overall responsibility for recruitment, staff development, legal matters and the administration of grants. It is also responsible for co-ordinating and preparing meetings of the Council of Ministers for Justice Affairs (MR-JUST).

The Finance Department has overall responsibility for financial management and accounting for the whole of the Nordic House, including bookkeeping, monthly reconciliations, annual accounts and much more. The department is also responsible for the portfolio management of initiatives funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ budget and which make a contribution to Vision 2030.