Jorodd Asphjell, President of the Nordic Council, and Masud Gharahkhani, President of the Storting during Nordic Day on 23rd March. Photo: Storting
Nordic summit in the Storting
Politicians from across the Nordic Region have convened in the Storting this week for the Nordic Council’s 75th annual session. The session will take place from Monday 30th October to Thursday 2nd November. With security policy high on the summit’s agenda, NATO's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has agreed to be the guest speaker.
Programme and additional information about the Nordic Council session (norden.org)
“The values we share here in the Nordic Region are more crucial than ever. Elected Nordic representatives meeting like this is a significant occasion, so I’m much looking forward to the Storting hosting the Nordic Council session,” said President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani.
The President of the Storting will give the opening address in the Storting Chamber on 31st October. He will also meet the other Nordic presidents of parliament during the session.
“We are all concerned about the growing pressure that human rights, democracy and international cooperation are presently coming under. With a war raging on the Nordic nations’ own doorstep, security policy is a key item on the session’s agenda,” continued Mr Gharahkhani.
About the Nordic Council
The Nordic Council is an important arena for Nordic cooperation. Since this year it is Norway's turn to hold the Presidency, the annual session will take place in the Storting. Here, the Nordic Council's 87 parliamentarians, the Nordic prime ministers and foreign ministers as well as a number of other government ministers from across the region will meet to discuss and debate key issues for Nordic cooperation. The annual session rotates between the Nordic countries, and is always arranged in the country which holds the presidency. The last time the session take place in the Storting was in 2018.
Stoltenberg as guest speaker
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has been invited to address the session this year. The President of the Storting will also have a separate meeting with Mr Stoltenberg during his visit.
“I’m very much looking forward to hosting Mr Stoltenberg. It’s great that he’s coming to the Storting, a place he knows extremely well,” he said.
A safe, green and young Nordic Region
Jorodd Asphjell (Labour Party), President of the Nordic Council, is delighted that the Storting will be playing host to a large number of Nordic MPs, ministers and NATO’s Secretary General.
“Common values are at the very heart of Nordic cooperation. We don’t always agree, but our Nordic solidarity gives us a unique basis for political collaboration,” he said.
Mr Asphjell will be chairing this year’s session under the heading “A safe, green and young Nordic Region”. There are all sorts of important questions on the agenda, including: What can we do to make the Nordic Region a safer place? How can we speed up the green transition? How can we make the region a good place to live for a generation which is growing up in troubled times?
Giving young people a voice in an exhibition in Eidsvolls plass
“It’s essential for our democracies that young people have the chance to take part. This is why we’ve invited secondary schools from across the Nordic Region to share what’s on their minds in terms of democratic engagement, freedom of speech and cyberbullying.
The competition has resulted in “Young Nordic voices”, an exhibition currently on display in Eidsvolls plass.
Crown Prince and Crown Princess to present the Environment Prize
There is a total of five annual Nordic Council prizes: Environment, Music, Film, Literature, and Children and Young People’s Literature. The award ceremony takes place in the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet on Tuesday evening. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit will hand out the prize which rewards extraordinary initiative on behalf of nature and the environment. Other prizegivers will be the actor Maria Bonnevie, the author Maja Lunde, the musician Kajsa Balto, and Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery.
The evening will be hosted by the actor Kåre Conradi and the musician Ingrid Bjørnov, and will be broadcast live on NRK1. Among those appearing on stage will be Jonas Benyoub and the Norwegian National Ballet 2.
Widely considered to be among the Nordic Region’s most prestigious prizes, The Nordic Council prizes attract considerable international recognition.