Nordic Council (NC)

Conseil nordique
Consejo Nórdico
Nordiska Rådet (NR)
Nordisk Råd (NR)
Pohjoismaiden Neuvosto (PN)

Founded

1952

History

Established by Statute drawn up by governments of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Finland adhered in 1955. Since 1970 the autonomous territories of the Faeroes and the Åland Islands have their own representatives on the Council and, since 1984, Greenland is also represented. The Council is sometimes referred to in English as Nordic Council of Parliamentarians (NCP). It was based in Stockholm (Sweden) until Aug 1996, when it moved to Copenhagen (Denmark), where it is housed with the Secretariat of D-XD4238 - Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM).

Legal Status: T-XT6278 - Treaty of Cooperation between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (Helsinki Treaty), also referred to as 'Treaty of Nordic Cooperation', was signed 23 Mar 1962, Helsinki (Finland), entered into force 1 Jul 1962 and revised: 13 Feb 1971; 11 Mar 1974; 15 Jun 1983; 6 May 1985; 21 Aug 1991; 18 Mar 1993. Working procedure came into force 1 Jul 1971, most recent amendments: 27 Feb 1990; 28 Feb 1991; 3 Mar 1992; 7 Nov 1993. Joint Declaration on Nordic Cooperation, Jun 1994, Corfu (Greece), indicated that Nordic countries newly members of the European Union intend to continue, in full compliance with Community law and other provisions of the T-XT9113 - Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty), Nordic Cooperation among themselves as well as with other countries and territories.

Prior to the setting up of the Council, Nordic Union or cooperation can be dated from 1397, Kalmar (Sweden), on setting up of H-XH4863 - Kalmar Union when Erik of Pomerania was crowned King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Kalmar Union ceased to exist in 1523, but historical cooperation continued: Sweden and Norway were united from 1815 to 1905; D-XD2994 - Nordic Postal Union (NPU) was set up in 1869, by a trilateral postal agreement between Denmark, Norway and Sweden and subsequently extended to include Finland and Iceland; H-XH0330 - Scandinavian Coin Union, a currency union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden, existed from 1873 until 1914; U-XJ7145 - Scandinavian Interparliamentary Union was set up in 1908, with the help of Fredrik Bajer; Nordic inter-ministerial meetings were held between the World Wars (1918 to 1939).

Aims

Instigate, monitor and accelerate the pace of Nordic international cooperation, rooted in the local community and based on values shared by the countries and autonomous areas forming the Nordic region; act as cooperative body of legislatures and governments of member countries in matters involving joint action and discussion of questions of common interest.

Events

Activities

Structure

Praesidium, comprising 15 parliamentarians (at least 2 from each country). Plenary Assembly of Council (annual, open) consists of 87 members elected by and from parliaments. Each national delegation elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson from its members and has a national secretariat based in its parliament. Each member of Council (except members of the Praesidium) is assigned to one of the 4 Standing Committees, whose secretaries are a part of the Secretariat of the Praesidium. Party Groups (4). Secretariat, located in Copenhagen (Denmark). F-XD0224 - Nordic Passport Union was set up in 1954, including Finland from 1958, and subsequently Iceland; and D-XD4238 - Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) in 1971. Committees (6): Knowledge and Culture in the Nordic Region; Sustainable Nordic Region; Growth and Development in the Nordic Region; Welfare in the Nordic Region; Control; Election.

Languages

Staff

Finance

Relations with Inter-Governmental Organizations

Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations

Publications

Members

Type I Classification

Type II Classification

Subjects ^*

UN Sustainable Development Goals ^**

UIA Org ID

XD2984