Press releases, 14.3.2014

The Nordic Countries agreed on joint efforts to influence the UN Development Goals in Helsinki

Press release 59/2014
14.3.2014

Nordic Development Ministers agreed on a closer mutual cooperation in a meeting hosted by Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto, held in Helsinki. The Ministers aim at including the shared Nordic themes as part of the post-2015 global development goals.

“Equal rights of women and girls, high-quality education, sustainable management and use of natural resources, and reducing inequality are key issues for development – this is a fact reflected also in the history of the Nordic Countries. We want to ensure that these matters will also be given sufficient emphasis in the future UN development goals,” notes Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto.  

The Joint Statement of Nordic Development Ministers underscores the importance of human rights, democracy, and rule of law. The starting point must be inclusive development partnerships, and the accountability of countries for their own development. The Nordic Countries agree that climate change and the issues related to peace and security must be given a more visible role in the future.
 
Finding solutions to existing problems requires versatile financing for development.

“Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be needed in the least developed countries in particular. Many of these are "fragile states", which will be given more emphasis, for example, in the Finnish development assistance in the future. At the same time, however, we need to find new ways of financing development. In the future, more emphasis will be put on the domestic resources of the developing countries and the role of the private sector,” says Haavisto.

The work must be efficient and transparent.

“From south to north, citizens have the right to know what is being achieved by means of development assistance. We must also be able to provide information about the results of our efforts – and do that as openly as possible."

Minister Haavisto considers that closer cooperation in development policy is important. “It is good that the Nordic Ministers for Development Policy meet regularly. At Finland’s initiative, the next meeting will be in connection with the Nordic Council in the autumn in Sweden.”

Joint Statement (Opens New Window) by Development Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden on Nordic cooperation towards eradicating poverty and ensuring sustainable development for al

Additional information: Timo Olkkonen, Head of the General Development Policy and Planning Unit, tel. +358 295 350 945; Milma Kettunen, Press Attaché for the Minister, tel. +358 40 522 9869
Nordic cooperation