Nordic inter-governmental and inter-parliamentarian cooperation are one of the oldest and most comprehensive regional cooperation models in the world. The Nordic “constitution”, also known as the Helsinki Treaty – a document regulating the official cooperation among the Nordic countries – was signed on 23 March 1962 in Helsinki, Finland. The date has therefore been called “Nordic Day”.
The signatory parties were all five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The treaty consists of 70 paragraphs, which stipulate that the parties shall maintain and foster cooperation in the spheres of legislation, culture, social affairs, environmental protection, infrastructure, and economy. Likewise, the treaty provides for equal treatment of all Nordic citizens when devising laws and other regulations.
On the afternoon of March 23, an event dedicated to Nordic Day and the opening of the book "The Compass always points North" took place at the Norwegian Ambassador's residence.