"More hard issues should be discussed at the Nordic Council"

The Nordic Council was founded in 1952 by Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Finland became a member in 1955. The autonomous areas of the Faroe Islands and Åland joined in 1970 and finally Greenland came onboard in 1984. There is also the Nordic Youth Council, which is always invited to the Nordic Council’s sessions where it also has the right to be heard. 

The Nordic Council has a general meeting once every year. The 87 representatives parliamentarians from the respective countries. Each country has 20 seats, except Iceland which has seven. Denmark has granted two seats each to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and Finland has granted two seats to Åland. The autonomous areas’ position has been strengthened through the 2007 Åland Document.

During sessions, representatives are divided into party groups: the Conservative Group, Nordic Green Left, the Centre Group and Nordic Freedom. Session work is carried out in four committees covering different areas: Knowledge and Culture, a Sustainable Nordic Region, Growth and Development and Welfare in the Nordic Region. 

The Nordic Council’s session is always held in week 44 in the country that holds the Presidency. Iceland holds the Presidency in 2020, while Denmark holds the Presidency for the Nordic Council of Ministers. 

The Nordic Council decides the budget for the Nordic cooperation, proposes areas of priority and gives out five prizes for environmental work, children and young people’s literature, literature, film and music.