Finland heads the Nordic countries in 2007
Having served as president of the EU for the second half of 2006, Finland assumed the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers for 2007 at the start of the new year.
While, of course, the EU Presidency carries far greater political weight and is more demanding, the importance of the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers should not be underestimated.
Despite intermittent arguments to the contrary, Nordic co-operation is vigorous and meaningful. The reason why it makes no big headlines is that it is low-keyed and undramatic. Obviously Nordic co-operation constitutes no alternative to European integration, as it is ancillary and complementary to it. But while the big issues are decided on a broad European basis, the need for regional co-operation has by no means declined in importance as a result of the EU’s enlargement; in fact the opposite is the case.
Inside the Danish parliament, Folketinget, during the 58th session of the Nordic Council in Copenhagen from October 31 until November 2, 2006. Photo: Adam Elwan
Scandinavians and Finns look forward to closer co-operation
According to an opinion poll commissioned by the Nordic Council in autumn 2006, people in Scandinavia and Finland would like to see closer co-operation among themselves, with 8 out 10 being aware of the Nordic Council and/or Council of Ministers. Admittedly the score was slightly below the figure reached in a similar survey in 1993. However, 3 out of 4 people now regard Nordic co-operation as valuable, whereas in 1993 the corresponding figure was just over 50 per cent.
At the same time, the respondents felt that this co-operation made little difference for individual citizens. Six out of ten cited environmental issues and fighting crime as the most important areas of co-operation.
The successful Nordic model
Even though the Nordic model for social development is often criticised for its rigid structures, high taxes and paternalism, it has been a success in the global context. The Nordic model could not have come about without shared values developed over the centuries and intense co-operation that the Nordic countries have engaged in for over half a century. Considering that the rest of the world perceives the Nordic countries as a success story, it would seem odd if we ourselves were to play down the importance of this co-operation and the potential it offers for the future.
Established in 1971, the Nordic Council of Ministers is the forum for Nordic governmental co-operation. While overall responsibility within the Nordic Council of Ministers rests with the respective Prime Ministers, their powers are, in reality, delegated to the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation, of whom there is one from each Nordic country, and to the Nordic Committee for Co-operation (NSK), which co-ordinates the day-to-day functioning of official, political Nordic co-operation.
Most of the Nordic ministers responsible for specific policy areas meet in a council of ministers twice a year. Issues are prepared and followed up by the various Committees of Senior Officials. The Nordic Prime Ministers meet regularly before EU summit meetings and other important gatherings.
The Nordic countries as a domestic market
In many areas the Nordic countries constitute a single market. An active process of Nordic integration is under way, particularly in banking, investments and insurance, telecommunications, media, retailing and the forest industry.
Every year, some 40,000 Nordic citizens move from one country to another within the area. Cross-border trade is lively, while commuting across the Öresund Bridge, linking Denmark and Sweden, increases continuously.
But despite decades of active integration, a number of bureaucratic barriers and a degree of ignorance still exist, hindering the free movement of people, goods, and services in the Nordic region. These border barriers have been on the Nordic agenda since the start of the 2000s and while considerable progress has been made, a lot remains to be done.
That is why the removal of border barriers is a key theme for Finland’s presidency programme summed up in the Nordic Council motto: A Region of Opportunity - Close to You.
Removal of border barriers
The biggest barriers affecting the opportunities for individuals and companies to relocate and establish themselves are encountered in the labour market, business, education, social welfare, health care and taxation. What is needed is an inter-Nordic online employment office for the border areas, mutually recognised qualifications in several disciplines, improved student support to facilitate studying in another Nordic country, and last, but not least, more flexible and affordable money transfers within the Nordic area.
Finland was involved in the efforts to focus on border barriers through the report The Rights of Nordic Citizens (2001) authored by Ole Norrback, a former Finnish Minister for Nordic cooperation. His report addressed problems faced by individual citizens when moving to another Nordic country.
Norrback’s report was followed by a report on border barriers in business (2003) by former Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlüter.
Information campaign
The opinion poll mentioned earlier showed that it was people under the age of 30 who did not have the vaguest idea of what Nordic co-operation is all about, which is one of the reasons why Finland will emphasise the marketing of this type of co-operation.
On the national level, some twenty campaign meetings will be held in Europe Information offices across the country to inform audiences about Nordic co-operation and its significance for private citizens. The chief target groups for the campaign will be children and young people.
Focus on globalisation and the Baltic
By all appearances, globalisation issues will be to the fore during Finland’s presidency. The programme for the presidency will also highlight a number of welfare issues, including education and social and healthcare services, which are also linked to the EU's Nordic Dimension policy. Other natural points of focus will be the condition of the Baltic Sea and maritime safety.
Finland will assume the presidency under a new minister for Nordic co-operation, Stefan Wallin. At the end of 2006, Wallin succeeded Jan-Erik Enestam as Finland's Minister of the Environment and Minister for Nordic Co-operation.
Written for Virtual Finland by Henrik Wilén, Director of the Nordic Institute in Finland (NIFIN)
Published January 2007