Nordic PMs strengthen preparedness to counter Russian threat

The Prime Minister of Nordic countries on Tuesday conveyed a strong message that Russia’s war has permanently changed the Nordic region and that the countries’ common objectives will better prepare the region to operate in the changed environment.

The Premiers in their meeting in Helsinki in connection with the 74th Session of the Nordic Council also viewed that the region is more united now than perhaps ever before, and Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership will open up new opportunities for Nordic cooperation, said a government press release.

Against this backdrop, the prime ministers discussed the region’s contribution to the green transition, which aims to respond to both climate change and the common challenges in the energy sector arising from the war launched by Russia.

The discussions focused strongly on Nordic cooperation in building green industry and the skills needed to develop it, and in speeding up the green transition.

The Nordic leaders also discussed common views and measures to influence global climate and environmental work. Important forums for this work include the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November, and the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity taking place in Montreal, Canada, in December.

The objective of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Vision 2030 is to make the Nordic region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.

The vision has three strategic priorities: a green Nordic region, a competitive Nordic region and a socially sustainable Nordic region. In their meeting, the Nordic prime ministers assessed progress on implementing the vision and discussed the next steps.

The meeting was attended by the prime ministers of the Nordic countries and representatives from Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

Because of the Danish elections, State Secretary for Foreign Policy Jesper Møller Sørensen represented Denmark at the meeting.