Press releases, 28.10.2011

Nordic Council convenes in Copenhagen

Government Communications Unit
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Press release 307/2011
28.10.2011

This year, the Nordic Council Session will take place in Copenhagen on 1-3 November. The Session brings together prime ministers and other ministers from all Nordic countries and their autonomous regions. On the opening day, 1 November, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb will attend the Nordic Summit focusing on the open Nordic societies. The tragic terror attacks in Norway on 22 July are the reason for the theme of the summit. As is customary, the Nordic ministers for foreign affairs will also convene during the Session. The Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will meet his colleagues on 2 November. Several other Finnish ministers will also attend a number of meetings during the Session.

Prime ministers to focus on green growth and openness

Finland currently holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen has invited his Nordic colleagues to attend the Globalisation Forum in Copenhagen on 31 October. Green growth and its funding will be the focus of this year's Forum. The day will end with a meeting of Nordic and Baltic prime ministers to discuss the European economic crises, international political crises and the development of Nordic-Baltic relations on the basis of the recommendations put forward in the Birkavs-Gade report.

On the following day, the Nordic prime ministers will convene for a meeting which will centre on the future of globalisation initiatives, Arctic cooperation, cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and the open Nordic society. The prime ministers will also meet representatives of the autonomous regions and the Presidium of the Nordic Council.

Question time with the ministers for cooperation

Alexander Stubb will welcome the other Nordic ministers for cooperation to Copenhagen on 1 November. After the opening day's plenary assembly, the cooperation ministers will meet the Presidium of the Nordic Council and hold their third meeting of the year. The meeting agenda will include the final adoption of the 2012 budget and discussion on the political priorities for cooperation.

Young politicians will also have their say on 2 November when the Finnish Minister for Nordic Cooperation will meet representatives from the Nordic Youth Council. The cooperation minister's day will continue with a debate on the Ministers for Cooperation Report and the 2012 budget for the Nordic Council of Ministers. In the afternoon, the cooperation ministers will hold a question time allowing Nordic parliamentarians to address questions to ministers.

Foreign ministers to discuss key international issues and Nordic cooperation

The Nordic foreign ministers have traditionally convened for a meeting during the Nordic Council Session. In their meeting, the foreign ministers will discuss the Stoltenberg report which is an independent report drawn up by the former Defence and Foreign Minister of Norway, Thorvald Stoltenberg, on how Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy could be developed over the next 10–15 years. The meeting will also discuss CERT cooperation which enables to prevent and combat information security threats and incidents on the internet. In addition, the ministers will touch on administrative cooperation and key political issues, including the situation in North Africa, Palestine and Afghanistan and the international Arms Trade Treaty.

Inquiries: Bo Lindroos, Head of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, +358 40 158 5451; and Antti Vänskä, Special Adviser, International Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2068 or +358 40 513 1458; and Liisa Talonpoika, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, +358 40 820 1285

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