Like much of the rest of the world, the Nordic Region faces uncertain times – not least in light of the war in Ukraine. The Swedish programme focuses on making the Region safer and promoting the democratic values and human rights that epitomise Nordic society.
“Sweden embarks upon this Presidency firmly convinced that closer Nordic co-operation is essential for our shared prosperity and resilience. Standing together makes us stronger and safer,” say the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, and the Minister for Nordic Co-operation, Jessika Roswall.
Nordic-Baltic Co-operation
In 2024, Sweden will also chair the informal Nordic and Nordic-Baltic co-operation formats for foreign and security policy. Continued strong support for Ukraine and its struggle for freedom will be a priority in this work. As free democracies, it is our obligation and duty to support those who fight for the same rights and, by extension, defend our own.
The Nordic Council of Ministers has been working with the Baltic countries for a long time. There is great potential to extend this co-operation, which covers education and research, culture, health preparedness, medicine, sharing health data and the digitalisation of official bodies in general, knowledge about an ageing population and dementia, cyber-security, illegal working practices, the sustainability of social security and the work of the statistics committees. The Swedish Presidency will pursue opportunities to intensify Nordic-Baltic co-operation in various areas.
Vision 2030 shows the way
Vision 2030 aims to make the Nordic Region the most sustainable and integrated in the world, and the programme focuses on the need for it to be a green Nordic Region. It seeks to boost the circular economy, biodiversity and the energy sector, as well as to streamline and digitalise the transport system. New and innovative solutions will both strengthen the Region and enhance Nordic competitiveness in the rest of the world.
An integrated Nordic Region
It should be easy to live, study, work and run companies throughout the whole Nordic Region and across its borders. The Presidency will focus more closely on creating an integrated Nordic Region, particularly by strengthening the joint labour market, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2024. The focus will be on digitalisation and the labour market, as well as the new opportunities offered by the reforms of public-sector employment agencies.
A robust and resilient Nordic Region
Part of a socially sustainable Nordic Region is that members of the public feel safe and that society is robust and resilient. The Swedish Presidency will, therefore, take the lead in the fight against crime, targeting criminals and seeking to prevent young people from being drawn into a life of criminal or radicalised.
