Nordic Foreign Ministers discussed cooperation in the North and Baltic Sea region

Discussions among the Foreign Ministers of the Nordic countries, which took place in connection with a session of the Nordic Council, were held in a highly positive and open atmosphere, said Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, who chaired the meeting in Oslo on Wednesday, 31 October. The main topics of the Foreign Ministers’ meeting were regional cooperation in the North and the Baltic Sea region.

In line with Finland’s example, other Nordic countries are considering the appointment of a special ambassador for Baltic Sea cooperation.

Norway, Sweden and Finland will continue to develop their cooperation in security and regional policy. The other Nordic countries will be kept informed of activities and may take part in cooperation if they wish to do so.

In his Foreign Policy Report to the Nordic Council, Foreign Minister Kanerva also addressed Nordic peacekeeping and crisis management cooperation, the upcoming UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen and the Middle Eastern peace process.

Nordic Council delegates presented questions about Iran’s nuclear energy policy, Denmark’s participation in the activities of Northern region cooperation organs and about Nordic and European Union cooperation with Russia.

At the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Trade of the Nordic countries, the main topics were Russia’s membership negotiations with the WTO and the OECD as well as trade and development issues.

The meeting, led by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, decided to establish a joint Nordic expert group to develop commercial cooperation with developing countries by means various support measures. Norway and Iceland supported the European Union’s navigation policy objectives. Effort will be made to promote Nordic cooperation concerning innovation and competitiveness.

Finnish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers
Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers