How the Nordic countries can work together to help achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals is one of the issues to be discussed during the session in Copenhagen. On Monday 31 October, the entire Nordic Council will assemble at UN City in the Danish capital.

“By lifting the sustainability goals onto the Nordic agenda, we parliamentarians help make them relevant in each national parliament,” said Sonja Mandt (Labour Party), head of the Norwegian delegation to the Nordic Council. “I also hope the meeting at UN City will generate ideas on how the Nordic Council can enhance Nordic cooperation in support of the sustainability goals.”

Important arena for Norway

The President of the Storting will take part in the session again this year, with a special programme in coordination with the other Nordic parliamentary presidents.

“The Nordic Council’s session is an important meeting place for politicians from all the Nordic countries,” said Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting. “The Nordic countries are our closest partners in very many areas, so I am happy the Storting is sending a strong and engaged delegation.”

It has become traditional for the top political leaders of the Nordic parliaments to meet during the session. Thommessen wants to use this year’s meeting to discuss how the Nordic parliaments can assist the former Soviet republics in democratic development.

Awarding of Nordic prizes

The Nordic Council’s prizes for literature, children and young people’s literature, film, music and the environment will be awarded in DR Byen (headquarters of Denmark’s national broadcaster) on Tuesday 1 November.

“It will be exciting to see if we have any Norwegian prize-winners this year,” said Sonja Mandt, a member of the Nordic Council Presidium.

The Danish Folketing is hosting the Nordic Council’s 68th Session. In three days of political meetings, a wide range of issues will be considered in such fields as cultural affairs, education, the environment and social welfare. Sessions are organised annually and are the highest level of decision-making in the Nordic Council.

Working for Nordic interests

The Nordic Council works to strengthen Nordic and regional interests and resources in a global context. A strong Nordic region in a strong Europe is an overarching goal of its efforts. The collaboration is politically, economically and culturally based.

The Nordic Council is a cooperative body for the parliaments in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and for the autonomous Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland.

See also

The Nordic Council Session and Nordic cooperation
The Storting’s delegation to the Council