From 30 October to 2 November, the annual meeting of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers took place in Oslo, Norway. It is the largest meeting of its kind in the Nordic countries and for the 75th year in a row it attracts wide international attention as it charts the political and strategic direction of the region.
This year, the focus was on three themes: security, accelerating the so-called green course and youth. In view of the current security challenges and the NATO membership of the Nordic countries, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, was present as a special guest. He welcomed Ukraine’s courageous and determined fight for independence, and strongly stressed the need for fiercer weapons for the Ukrainian troops to make progress in this war.
The meeting opened with a press conference where the prime ministers of all the Nordic countries outlined regional issues and took questions from journalists. Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and the head of the government of the autonomous province of Åland Veronica Thörnroos stressed the need for regulating artificial intelligence and a common approach to the development of new technologies and cybersecurity. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke about security in the Nordics and the role of this region in the world. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stressed the need to continue to supporting Ukraine and condemned the brutal hostilities in the Middle East. Greenland Prime Minister Múte B. Egede expressed concern of Greenland not being involved in regional decision-making to be called equal partners. And stated that issues important to Greenland such as microplastic pollution are often overlooked.
This annual meeting brings together a diverse mix of decision-makers and executives to discuss issues of regional and global concern and to make action plans for the way forward. Participants agreed on the need for more rigid action towards sustainability and climate to achieve the nature conservation goals set out in Vision 2030.
A separate section of the meeting was dedicated specifically to youth. The newly elected President of the Nordic Youth Council, Anders Hansen from Denmark, highlighted three priorities for the next year: foreign policy, climate, and youth mobility in the Nordic countries.
Traditionally, the annual Nordic Council Prize was awarded during the event celebrating the best project in five areas: literature, film, music, children’s and youth’s literature and innovation for nature. The awarding ceremony took place at the Oslo Opera House. The Nordic Council prizes are the most prestigious prizes of this sort in the Nordic region with the Literature Prize being the oldest of the five. It was first awarded in 1962.
Celebrated winners
- Literature: Joanna Rubin Dranger for “Ihågkom oss till liv”. Sweden.
- Film: “Empire”. Denmark.
- Music: Singer Maija Kauhanen. Finland.
- Natural innovation: Company Renewcell. Sweden.
- Children’s and young people's literature: Rán Flygenring for the picture book “Eldgos”. Iceland.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway, Nordic ministers and politicians and representatives from the nominated fields attended the ceremony. The Nordic Council Prize raises the profile of Nordic culture and interest in Nordic literature, language, film, music, and sustainability initiatives. Each winner receives a prize worth DKK 300 000 (approximately EUR 40 000).
The Session was covered by the main national broadcaster – the Latvian Television, and the public media news portal LSM.lv.
Publications (in Latvian)
- Stoltenberg: If we want peace, we must not undermine support for Ukraine: https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/arzemes/31.10.2023-stoltenbergs-ja-gribam-mieru-nedrikstam-mazinat-atbalstu-ukrainai.a529899/
- Nordic countries: Israel must respect international law in Gaza conflict: https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/arzemes/02.11.2023-ziemelvalstis-izraelai-konflikta-gaza-jaievero-starptautiskas-tiesibas.a530237/
Sweden will hold the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers next year. Under Vision 2030, it is committed to the shared efforts of making the Nordic countries the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. To achieve this, three priorities have been set: security, sustainability, and freedom.
More about the Nordic Council of Ministers: https://www.norden.org/en
