Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre presented the Norwegian Presidency’s plans during the first day of the Nordic Council’s session in Helsinki from 27 to 29 October.
Read this article in Norwegian on Arbeidsliv i Norden
Norway takes over the Presidency from Denmark and the Faroe Islands on 1 January next year.
“Our societies are closely connected. What affects one Nordic country can quickly affect us all.“
“With this in mind, we will build on the efforts of the 2025 and 2026 presidencies and work even more closely together on energy, health, critical infrastructure and security of supply. We will cooperate even closer in the fight against cross-border crime,” Støre told the summit.
Next year’s priorities
The 2027 Norwegian Presidency will have three main priorities:
- strengthened preparedness, security of supply and social resilience
- safeguarding democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights
- stepping up efforts to achieve “Vision 2030” to strengthen the Nordic region’s competitiveness and technological capabilities
The Presidency’s programme is called “Standing together in the face of uncertainty”.
Read the entire programme for Norway’s 2027 Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers here.
The Norwegian minister for cooperation Åsmund Aukrust will be leading Norway’s Presidency on behalf of the government in 2027.
Continuing efforts to combat work-related crime
The first priority will build on the work of previous presidencies and strengthen cooperation on energy, health, critical infrastructure and combating organised and cross-border crime.
On 1 January 2027, the Nordic Council of Ministers will introduce a new programme for civil protection and emergency preparedness. The programme aims to improve coordination across sectors.
“We will also carry on with the work our predecessors began in 1954 to make it easier to work, study and run a business across our borders.
“We want to reduce border barriers and further develop cooperation with the business community, including through the new Nordic Compass industrial alliance, which opens up new opportunities,” said Støre.
“To create a socially sustainable Nordic region, we will continue to develop the Nordic social model, where high employment, low levels of inequality and strong communities go hand in hand,” said the Norwegian Prime Minister.
Following up Nordic “Draghi report”
Strengthening Nordic competitiveness will remain a priority during the Norwegian Presidency. This work will build on the report “Analysis of Competitiveness in a Nordic Perspective”, which was presented during the Danish-Faroese presidency in autumn 2026.
“In order to improve Nordic competitiveness, we will strengthen cooperation on research, innovation and new technology, including artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
“This technology may not be developed or invented in our countries, but when it comes to applying it, we are ahead of everyone else. We put the technology to use,” Støre said as he addressed the members of the Nordic Council.
A safer digital world for children and young people
As part of the second priority, Norway will place particular emphasis on the rights of children and young people online. The Norwegian presidency will follow up on the new Marienborg Manifesto, which has been signed by all the Nordic prime ministers.
The manifesto lays the groundwork for closer Nordic cooperation on regulating technology and screen use. Children and young people will be given a voice in this work.
Norway will also follow up on the Norwegian-Finnish call for action on AI which calls for greater oversight of the development of the most advanced AI models.
The third priority will see Norway step up efforts to achieve Vision 2030, the goal of making the Nordic region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.
Norway will host the “Vision Conference 2027” in cooperation with the Nordic Council of Ministers.
