"Nordic co-operation concerns most people in their everyday lives. The vision of the Helsinki Treaty for equal treatment for Nordic citizens is still very relevant. The Council of Ministers has initiated a discussion on the visions for co-operation. Moreover, as part of my assignment as Secretary General, the Council has required that I help to streamline, target and develop Nordic Co-operation. This is an expression of political will, which I want to help to achieve, aided by the Secretariat", said Høybråten, who has been committed to the Nordic dimension throughout his career both as a politician and as a civil servant.
The Nordic Council of Ministers was founded in 1971 to promote closer ties between the governments in the region. The Estonian office of the NCM was opened in early spring 1991.