Finland to focus on water, nature and people during Nordic Council of Ministers presidency

Tuesday, 05 January 2016

The direction the Nordic Council of Ministers will take in 2016 is being presided over by Finland. The Nordic neighbours have chosen water, nature and people as their key themes for the year ahead. This choice sprang from a desire to protect the Nordic environment while at the same time giving the economy a sustainable boost. Finland is also looking to keep to international climate agreements.

People in the Nordic countries should have the opportunity to live in a sustainable welfare society. The open-borders policy in the region, which has stood for decades, and the continued removal of border obstacles so that people, goods and services can move about freely in the Nordic countries have become important issues. Solutions are hoped to be found with the support, among other things, of digitalisation.

25 years in Estonia

In addition to Finland’s presidency and guidelines for cooperation between the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Baltic States, 2016 is marked out by the 25th anniversary of the council of ministers’ office in Estonia. In early 1991 the Nordic governments decided to show their support for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by opening offices of the Nordic Council of Ministers in the three countries. Over the last quarter of a century these offices have created and promoted cooperation and shared values between the Nordic countries and the Baltic States.

Media

Soome eesistumine Põhjamaade Ministrite Nõukogus 2016

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