THE NORDIC TURN OUTWARDS

The Nordic Co-operation and the Adjacent Area Policy

THE ADJACENT AREAS IN NORDIC POLICY

Nordic co-operation with the so-called adjacent areas covers the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), northwest Russia and the Arctic. The development on these areas is politically important for the Nordic countries. They have common political, economical, security and environmental interests in the area. The idea is that by co-operating closely with these areas the Nordic countries can for their part promote European peace, security and stability. The overall goal is therefore to promote security and to contribute to stabile and security development, while at the same time promoting shared values and closer economic ties between the Nordic region and these areas.

Baltic countries as a starting point

As the Baltic states regained their independence in 1991 the Nordic countries were actively on the move to offer their support and help. The Nordic Council of Ministers commenced co-operation activities in 1990, after the Nordic council had discussed the independence process and expressed its vigorous support for Baltic aspirations. 1991 the Nordic Council invited the it´s session representatives from the Baltic parliaments. The session gave recommendations concerning East European countries and especially the Baltic countries. The Nordic Information Offices were established in the Baltic capitals in 1991 for providing information and administrate co-operation and aid projects. Lately they have gained an important function as helping the Baltic countries to adjust their legislation and administration for the prospective EU-membership. An information office has been established also in St. Petersburg to develop a contact network to Russian officials and to contribute to the development of the public administration.

Policy lines

The adjacent area dimension has got a lot attention in the Nordic co-operation. 1995 the goals were defined as follows: to promote democracy, human rights and social security, to help the transition towards market economy and to deliver Nordic values and conceptions about peace and security, to operate for solving the environmental problems in the Baltic sea region and to function as a channel between these areas and European union. The Nordic Council has sought to improve the conditions on the adjentary area by co-operation and by starting many projects on the areas in question. It has assisted different local citizen- and voluntary organization and supported the education of journalist. The actions are linked to the aim to develop democratic societal structures. Other projects have been projects concerning environment, legislation and trade as well as children and young people.

The Baltic Co-operation

The co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic countries, which is also became to be known as 5 +3 -assembly has developed to it´s own entity. It started it´s activities in the middle of the 1990s. The Baltic countries have comparable co-operational bodies on parliament and ministerial level as the Nordic countries have. The ministers of these countries meet regularly. There is also co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council. The Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly concluded their first co-operation agreement as far back as 1952. Since then the agreement has been renewed, and co-operation has gained added depth. The two organisations held joint meetings in 1996 and 1999. The members of the Baltic Assembly can, for example, now be invited to participate in working groups appointed within the framework of Nordic inter-parliamentary co-operation.

The Arctic Co-operation

The Arctic co-operation started in the 1996. The Arctic Council was established to coordinate the co-operation. The Council includes the Nordic countries, the United States, Canada and Russia. It´s main function is to support the sustainable development and to protect the unique Northern nature. The aim of the arctic co-operation is tu secure societal and economic development on nature´s conditions and to improve the quality of life of the people living in the Arctic areas.

Concluding remarks

The co-operation with the adjacent areas has been very active and pragmatic by its nature. The co-operation has been direct and included concrete problem solving. The aim has been to avoid heavy administrative structures. The co-operation has been taken place in many levels, not only between governments and parliaments but also between government officials and communities. The Nordic countries have supported the Baltic countries vigorously in their efforts to became members of the EU. In 2001 there is a special focus on Nordic co-operation with the Baltic states.

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Created by Heidi Haggrén, University of Helsinki
E-mail: heidi.haggren@helsinki.fi

Last updated on May 21, 2001