Leaders of Nordic co-operation convene

Finland started its Nordic chairmanship on Wednesday 4 January by convening a high-level negotiation meeting in Helsinki. The meeting discussed Finland's programme for the chairmanship and the procedures of Nordic co-operation in the light of the proposals put forward by the so-called Panel of Wise Men.

At the invitation of Mr. Jan-Erik Enestam, the Finnish Minister for Nordic Co-operation, the meeting was attended by the Presidium of the Nordic Council, led by Svend Erik Hovmand of Denmark, and representatives of the political party groupings of the Council – from Finland the Chairman of the Delegation to the Nordic Council Ms. Outi Ojala, Member of Parliament. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Søren Christensen, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and Ms. Frida Nokken, the Director of the Secretariat to the Nordic Council, with their assistants.

Finland wanted to give its chairmanship a flying start because the recommendations issued by the Panel of Wise Men should be examined still during January. The Panel's report entitled "Open to the Winds of Change" outlines different ideas for revising the content and forms of Nordic co-operation. The subject will be discussed at the working seminar of Nordic parliamentarians and ministers for co-operation to be arranged in Helsinki on 29 to 30 January.

According to Minister Enestam, the first meeting - others are due to come - will aim at individualising those initiatives about which there is unanimity and in which it is possible to make relatively rapid progress. Initiatives requiring further scrutiny or thorough consideration would be classified in separate groups. The outcome of this work will be reported to the session of the Nordic Council to be held in Copenhagen in October.

Enquiries: The Secretariat for Nordic Co-operation, Mr. Karl Johan Krokfors, tel. +358 9 1341 5557, [email protected]