Current affairs

The newly-appointed Foreign Minister of Denmark Villy Søvndal will meet Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja on his visit to Finland on 10 November.

The five Nordic foreign ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East today, focusing particularly on relations between Israel and the Palestinians in the wake of this week’s vote in UNESCO. Although the Nordic countries’ positions differed as regards the timing of Palestinian membership of UNESCO, they agree that the way forward must be based on a resumption of negotiations and the vision of a two-state solution.

The NB8 Foreign Ministers’ meeting was hosted by Minister Tuomioja on 29–30 August. The ministers discussed increasing the placement of their diplomats throughout the world so that they could work together in one another’s diplomatic missions. The coverage of the diplomatic missions network could thus be arranged in cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. This would also bring added benefits, such as better coverage, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

The Nordic and Baltic countries have today signed a memorandum of understanding on the locating of diplomats at each other’s missions abroad. The memorandum will make it easier for the Nordic and Baltic countries to maintain a diplomatic presence around the world by enabling flexible and cost-effective solutions.

The NB8 Foreign Ministers’ meeting, gathering together the Foreign Ministers of the Nordic and Baltic States, will take place in Helsinki on 30 August. Finland is the country coordinating NB8 cooperation in 2011.

The Nordic Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Helsinki on Tuesday focused on discussions of the present and future role of the Nordic countries in Libya. The Foreign Ministers stressed the Nordic countries’ unanimous approach to Libya.

The Nordic Foreign ministers meeting in Helsinki 5. April 2011 agreed on a joint declaration.

The programme for the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011 has three main areas of focus. The first is to cope with and counteract climate change. The second priority is to continue with and develop concrete globalization projects and to invest in Nordic research excellence. Thirdly, Finland will aim to encourage greater grassroots participation among all citizens and young people in particular.

The programme for the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011 has three main areas of focus. The first is to cope with and counteract climate change. The second priority is to continue with and develop concrete globalization projects and to invest in Nordic research excellence. Thirdly, Finland will aim to encourage greater grassroots participation among all citizens and young people in particular.

The programme for the Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011 has three main areas of focus. The first is to cope with and counteract climate change. The second priority is to continue with and develop concrete globalization projects and to invest in Nordic research excellence. Thirdly, Finland will aim to encourage greater grassroots participation among all citizens and young people in particular.