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Mr President,

The world is more dangerous and more unpredictable than it has been in many decades. The war in Europe has entered its fifth year. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has cost thousands of people their lives and forced millions to flee. We are also witnessing blatant use of force by major powers in other parts of the world.

In times like these, we all need good friends. And the Nordic countries are our closest neighbours and partners. Our security, effectiveness and influence are strengthened when we stand together – on a shared foundation of common values, mutual trust and binding cooperation across the Nordic region. Next year, Norway will take on the leadership of three Nordic cooperation platforms: the Nordic Council of Ministers, the informal Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy (N5), and the informal Nordic-Baltic cooperation format NB8. This will enable Norway to take an integrated approach and draw on the synergies between the three platforms. At the same time, it also means we have a responsibility to help to further develop our cooperation in light of the challenges the region is facing.

Mr President,

The Nordic countries now stand united as part of NATO’s integrated defence cooperation. This strengthens our joint defence capabilities. At the same time, the strategic ties between the High North and the Baltic regions have become increasingly important.

Together, we are strengthening NATO in the north. Swedish and Finnish officers are working side by side with their Norwegian colleagues at the Combined Air Operations Centre in Bodø. Norway is providing personnel for NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland. This cooperation also facilitates closer Nordic, Allied and partner-based efforts in the areas of defence innovation, cyber security and critical technologies.

Interest in the High North and the Arctic is growing. The Arctic NATO states have developed a common position and a framework for a joint Allied peacetime presence. This is how we ensure security in the north. With roughly 10 % of its population living north of the Arctic Circle, Norway has a special responsibility to safeguard security and cooperation in the north. We are investing in new capabilities to protect our part of the Arctic, and we are contributing to NATO’s Arctic Sentry peacetime operation.

NORDEFCO is the primary structure for Nordic defence cooperation within the framework of NATO. The Norwegian chairship this year has placed particular emphasis on the land domain, enablement and total defence. In March 2026 the Nordic countries presented a joint strategy for transport system preparedness. The strategy identifies prioritised transport corridors and the most critical measures needed in a Nordic perspective. It forms a basis for further developing the transport system at the Norwegian and Nordic levels.

There is great interest in Nordic cooperation, as evidenced by meetings between the Nordic prime ministers and their colleagues from countries such as India, Canada, Germany and Poland. The Nordic region combined has a population of more than 28 million, and its economy is among the fifteen largest in the world. This makes us a force to be reckoned with.

Mr President,

The Government has a clear goal for Nordic cooperation: it must provide added value over and above what we can achieve nationally or in other international and regional forums. During Norway’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, we will work to deliver concrete results. I would like to highlight three specific collaboration projects within the framework of the Nordic Council of Ministers that illustrate this:

  1. The Nordic-Baltic eID Project (NOBID) is working to develop a European electronic ID and digital wallet and aims to reduce digital border obstacles and promote an integrated Nordic business and labour market.
  2. The Nordic Group for Public Health Preparedness is drawing up on a joint evacuation plan for the health and social care sector. The Seamless Nordic cross-border cooperation on health, in severe accidents and crisis project seeks to facilitate cross-border healthcare assistance. This work will be continued under the Norwegian Presidency in 2027.
  3. New Nordics AI is a Nordic-Baltic initiative seeking to promote the development and application of artificial intelligence and to boost the region’s competitiveness. During our Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Norway will work to enable the AI centre to enhance the quality and application of AI systems in the business sector across the region.

The Norwegian Presidency will attach particular importance to the links between democracy, civil protection, sustainability and value creation by strengthening Nordic preparedness and increasing society’s resilience to complex threats. Climate and environmental issues, security and strategic autonomy will be cross-cutting themes in our cooperation.

Vision 2030 has given Nordic cooperation clearer strategic direction and resulted in new initiatives in areas such as the green transition, digitalisation, innovation, mobility and social inclusion. But there is more to be done. The green transition is not moving forward fast enough. Border obstacles continue to hamper Nordic integration. During the Norwegian Presidency, we will step up our efforts in the years leading up to 2030 while also laying the foundation for cooperation in the years that come after.

Protecting democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights will be a cross-cutting priority for the Norwegian Presidency. Democratic participation, freedom of expression and trust in institutions are key features of Nordic society. But these shared values are coming under pressure in our region, too. Disinformation, increasing polarisation and rapid technological advances are having an impact on public discourse and democratic processes. We will have an opportunity to address these topics at next year’s Vision Conference, which will be organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Presidency.

A key element of the vision is for the Nordic region to become the world’s most integrated region by 2030. The Nordic region is already well integrated in many areas, and its common labour market and passport union were established in 1954. This shows that Nordic efforts to dismantle border obstacles go back a long way.

In spring this year, I visited Morokulien in the municipality of Eidskog on the Swedish border. The Norwegian-Swedish police station there highlights the value of close Nordic cooperation to address common challenges. The station helps to prevent and combat cross-border crime and to make the Nordic region safer. The cooperation taking place across Europe’s longest land border illustrates the value of Nordic cooperation in practice. It is a priority for the Government to accelerate the efforts to reduce border obstacles. This means we must be willing to consider solutions that may also entail changes to our own system.

Two Norwegian border obstacles were eliminated in 2025:

  • One concerned language requirements for apprentices. Swedish and Danish-speaking apprentices were previously required to pass a Norwegian language test before they could take their apprenticeship exam in Norway. An amendment to the regulations has removed this requirement.
  • The other concerned taxi traffic between Norway and Finland. In the past, passengers had to change taxis at the border because the two countries did not have an agreement on cross-border transport, which was inconvenient for travellers and taxi companies alike. The issue has now been resolved thanks to an agreement between Norway and Finland.

Both examples show how minor obstacles can have a major practical impact on people and businesses in the border areas.

Mr President,

I would like to highlight some of the key areas of Nordic cooperation where valuable progress is being made, which we will build on during the Norwegian Presidency.

Ensuring that the Nordic region remains a competitive region is an important goal for the Norwegian Government. The report on Nordic competitiveness, launched at the Vision Conference in Copenhagen earlier this month, shows that the Nordic region is globally competitive. At the same time, the report points to a number of challenges. These include the capacity for innovation and the ability to create scalable businesses, where capital markets play an important role. The report will be followed up during the Norwegian Presidency in the form of dialogue between the authorities, the business sector, research and innovation communities, and the social partners. Cooperation on new technologies and industries led to the establishment of the New Nordics AI centre, which I’ve already talked about, but I would also like to also highlight a few other strategic Nordic initiatives:

  • Nordic research cooperation helps to address major societal challenges and increase the competitiveness and resilience of the Nordic region. In November, an analysis of the Nordic countries as a research and innovation region will be presented. The aim is to promote greater cooperation and to view the Nordic region in a European and global context. We will follow up the report and work to strengthen the Nordics as a research and innovation region in this time of instability, by fostering even closer collaboration between the research community and the business sector, with a particular focus on emerging technologies.
  • In the area of space-related activities, efforts are under way to enhance Nordic cooperation to increase mutual benefits. A Nordic roundtable on space cooperation is now being established. It will provide a Nordic platform for collaboration, both between the authorities and within the space sector.
  • In 2025, the Nordic prime ministers adopted a declaration on cooperation on quantum technologies. Following up the declaration will be essential in order to succeed in making the Nordic region a world-leading destination for companies, investment and experts in the field of quantum technology.This year, the Nordic Council of Ministers established a cross-sectoral working group to follow up the declaration. So far, the group has focused on identifying the various countries' strategic needs.

Close cooperation between the social partners and the authorities is a key feature of the Nordic model and has helped to ensure high levels of employment, competitiveness and social trust. The Norwegian Presidency will give priority to preventive efforts related to the work environment and effective cooperation between the social partners. We will also strengthen cooperation on identifying skills needs, particularly in technology and sciences.

Mr President,

Artificial intelligence will be a key thematic area for the 2027 Norwegian Presidency. 

Digital mobility, digital transformation and digital resilience are vital in this context. The Nordic-Baltic countries have already established important platforms for knowledge-sharing and competence building, but due to the rapid pace of technological development, we need to intensify our efforts. During our Presidency, we will also work to strengthen dialogue on children's digital safety. This includes issues such as age limits and age verification on social media, children's rights online, and measures to combat radicalisation, harmful content, sexual abuse and exploitation on digital platforms. We will, among other things, work to further develop Nordic arenas that encourage participation by children and young people.

Our digitalised societies are dependent on global technology providers and complex value chains that create vulnerabilities and critical dependencies. During our Presidency, we will follow up issues related to the security of critical digital infrastructure, digital resilience, the use of personnel across national borders and diversity in supply chains.

Mr President,

Our closely integrated societies and strong ties provide a foundation for trust-based relations, both between people and between countries. This is crucial for our work on civil protection and preparedness, which is a high priority at all levels of Nordic cooperation. This will continue to be a key priority during the Norwegian Presidency. The Nordic Council of Ministers is working to increase knowledge, strengthen networks and find joint solutions across a wide range of sectors. Our common goal is to ensure that the Nordic region is as well equipped as possible to deal with future crises.

Preparedness and security of supply are important elements of our cooperation in the fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, food production and forestry industries. A Nordic partnership for food supply preparedness has been established to strengthen knowledge-sharing and coordination between the Nordic countries. A number of initiatives have been launched to promote sustainable production, resource management and competitiveness in the blue-green sectors, including a project aimed at strengthening recruitment and skills development. All these initiatives are essential to ensure that these sectors can continue to provide food and bioresources.

Cooperation in the health and social care sector is important both for preparedness and for social sustainability. Let me give a few examples:

  • Antimicrobial resistance is a serious and growing challenge. The Council of Ministers has established a cross-sectoral Nordic programme to follow up the 2024 One Health Ministerial Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance.
  • A project has been initiated to map how the Nordic countries are incorporating vulnerable and at-risk groups in preparedness planning. The findings will be published at the end of this year.

Mr President,

The Haga cooperation on civil protection and preparedness and critical infrastructure has been an important forum for cooperation since 2009. It is also an important platform for coordination in NATO, the EU and Nordic-Baltic cooperation. Over the past year, this cooperation has been expanded to include the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The Haga cooperation is now being adapted and more closely integrated with national total defence concepts, with an emphasis on civil-military cooperation, security of supply and the resilience of critical societal functions.

The ministers responsible for security of supply in the Nordic countries and in the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland recently signed a joint declaration on improving access to goods and services in times of crisis and war. Particular emphasis is being placed on cooperation in the following areas:

  • further development of mechanisms to ensure the flow of goods and services during crises and war;
  • public-private cooperation on security of supply and preparedness;
  • emergency stockpiling and material preparedness;
  • access to critical raw materials and strategic resources; and
  • exchange of experience and knowledge-sharing between countries.

Mr President,

Climate and environmental cooperation in the Nordic Council of Ministers has been strengthened significantly in recent years. Joint solutions and a common knowledge base are being developed in areas such as climate adaptation, carbon capture and storage, green shipping, the oceans, plastics, nature-based solutions and the circular economy.

The Nordic countries have taken on a global leadership role in efforts to reduce plastic pollution, not least in the negotiations on a new global agreement to combat plastic pollution and marine litter. Here, I would like to mention one specific initiative: a project to find sustainable alternatives to rubber infill on artificial turf pitches in the Nordic climate, which is of particular relevance to children and young people. This is an important issue for the Government, the environment and Norway's football community.

Another area of particular interest to Norway is Nordic cooperation on issues related to the oceans. The Nordic Ocean Programme focuses on the sustainable management and use of marine areas, understanding the implications of climate change for Nordic marine environments, and increasing the resilience of marine ecosystems. In 2022, at Norway's initiative, the Nordic prime ministers issued a joint declaration on closer cooperation to promote ocean sustainability. The declaration has helped to strengthen and accelerate Nordic cooperation on ocean issues and will be followed up next year with a focus on ocean management, the circular economy and green shipping, as well as efforts to promote the sustainable use of marine resources. We will also follow up the Nordic commitment made at the UN Ocean Conference in 2025 with concrete targets to promote sustainable aquatic food systems.

Mr President,

Preparedness is also about culture, language, media and democratic resilience. Nordic cultural cooperation plays a vital role in strengthening Nordic identity, unity and integration.

In recent years, increasing attention has been directed towards the role of culture in the context of crisis, war and total defence. In Ukraine, we have seen how crucial culture is to the resilience of society and individuals alike. Nordic cooperation in this area focuses on both concrete preparedness measures, such as the protection of cultural heritage, and more traditional elements of cultural policy such as activities to promote reading, language and a sense of community. These are all important for enhancing the resilience of society. Here, it is worth mentioning the Nordic-Baltic Hanaholmen Heritage programme, which is dedicated to cultural heritage preparedness in times of crisis, war and other threat situations.

Disinformation, freedom of expression and media literacy are key focus areas in the media sector. We will follow these up during our Presidency, as part of our overall focus on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.

Mr President,

An open and inclusive society depends on respect for and protection of fundamental rights. Under the Pushing for Progress programme, the Nordic ministers responsible for gender equality are working together to address opposition and to continue to promote global gender equality. The UN Commission on the Status of Women is an important arena in this context. The Norwegian Presidency will advance these efforts, with particular emphasis on how digital information flows affect gender equality, attitudes towards gender roles, and gender and sexual diversity.

I would like to mention two other recent initiatives in the area of gender equality:

  • Nordic-Baltic cooperation has strengthened the knowledge base on gender-based and honour-motivated violence, and on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
  • New knowledge has been presented and there has been greater exchange of experience regarding the living conditions of LGBTIQ+ people in rural areas, where the situation is often particularly challenging.  

Mr President,

Education plays a key role in promoting inclusion, participation and the resilience of society. Priorities during the Norwegian Presidency will include the schools of the future and the needs of the youngest children, and the role of education in strengthening democratic preparedness and resilience. The Government is committed to providing the best possible schools and education system. We are deeply concerned by the downward trend in educational outcomes across the Nordic region. This issue will be followed up, including through an evaluation project to increase insight into declining educational outcomes in the Nordic countries.

During our Presidency, the Government will also work to improve the conditions in which children and young people live and grow up. Nordic cooperation in this area must be strengthened in order to address mental health challenges, loneliness, social exclusion, and the impacts of social media on everyday life.

Mr President,

To a great extent, the Nordic countries have similar legal traditions, values, social conditions and challenges in the justice sector. Our well-established information-sharing activities contribute positively to both legislative work and operational efforts. This is particularly the case when it comes to combating cross-border crime. Nordic cooperation also provides a valuable platform for coordinating positions in other international forums and strengthens Norway's position vis-à-vis the EU. I would like to highlight a few specific projects that illustrate the breadth of cooperation in the justice sector:

  • A research project has been launched to identify and compare legislation on civil protection and preparedness in the Nordic countries. The project will provide recommendations on policy measures and initiatives that will strengthen Nordic cooperation in this area.
  • Norway has started a project to examine the scope and consequences of crime as a commodity, which often involves minors. The aim is to establish an overview of measures that have been implemented, or are under consideration in the Nordic countries, to combat this type of crime and to outline additional measures.
  • In 2024, a dialogue was initiated between the Nordic justice ministers and major technology companies such as Meta, Google, Snapchat and TikTok. Since then, a number of meetings have been held with these companies. The dialogue is ongoing and provides an opportunity to discuss how digital services are being misused for criminal purposes.

Mr President,

In closing, I would like to offer a few comments on the ongoing process to consider potential amendments to the Helsinki Treaty – the defining framework for Nordic cooperation. In autumn 2024, the Nordic governments received a recommendation from the Nordic Council to update the Treaty and examine the possibility of giving more equal participation to the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. The Government’s position is clear: we are open to considering whether amendments to the Helsinki Treaty, or other measures, could lead to more equal participation. At the same time, Nordic unity is particularly important in the world we are living in today. Any amendments to the Helsinki Treaty must be based on thorough assessment and must safeguard the various countries’ differing constitutional frameworks.

Mr President,

The Nordic region is our region, and we are united by geography, culture and, to a large extent, language. The Nordic countries also have views that diverge, based on their geography and history. We have differing interests in a number of areas. However, there is no other part of the world with which we feel a stronger sense of affinity than our Nordic neighbours. This is why we need to come together and seek joint solutions whenever it is in our common interest to cooperate.

In this address, I have highlighted some areas of Nordic cooperation, but naturally I haven’t been able to cover everything. Every single day, people-to-people cooperation and the efforts of countless individuals are helping to keep our Nordic community alive. I would like to pay tribute to all those working tirelessly to strengthen our Nordic identity and resilience across our region.

Mr President,

In 2027, Norway will assume the leadership of both the Nordic cooperation and the Nordic-Baltic cooperation, and 2027 is also the year when the Nordic Council will mark its 75th anniversary. This is a timely reminder of how far back this cooperation goes – the oldest existing regional cooperation framework in the world – and of how important it is for us to continue to invest in it.