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Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2023 – a force for peace

2023 01 03

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland. Nordic Council Session 2022, Helsinki

Peace plays a key role in the  programme for the Icelandic presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers and the ambition to make the Nordic Region green, competitive and socially sustainable.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has given rise to a new security situation in which the solidarity and co-operation of the Nordic countries is extremely important. Iceland will step up Nordic co-operation and elevate the Nordic Region as a torch-bearer for peace.

“We’ll place special emphasis on peace as a prerequisite for welfare, human rights and environmental protection. To that end, the title of Iceland’s presidency in 2023 refers to the Nordic Region as a force for peace. In addition, it’s important to continue working towards our vision for a green, competitive and sustainable Nordic Region by 2030,” says Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland.

Peace is a prerequisite for the vision

Peace should be a cornerstone of Nordic co-operation. Iceland will emphasise this by highlighting the co-operation between the region’s peace centres and research institutions. By building on their knowledge, the Nordic countries can be messengers for diplomatic solutions, peace and disarmament. In addition, the Icelandic presidency will host an international conference in Reykjavík with a focus on peace as a prerequisite for human rights, welfare and gender equality.

A just green transition

Central to the programme is a just green transition, through and through. Emphasis will be placed on the sustainable utilisation of marine resources. Other key points are:

  • Gender equality and rights, especially for transgender and intersex people
  • Equal opportunities for participation in the labour market
  • Strengthening and development of the Nordic culture and arts scene
  • Joint Nordic policy for digital language technology
  • Strengthened West Nordic co-operation during the presidency

Overall, the activities must contribute to the realisation of Vision 2030 – for the Nordic Region to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. This vision was formulated by the Nordic prime ministers five years ago, during the period when Iceland last held the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The Nordic Region – A Force for Peace. Programme for the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2023

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Kornelija Kunigonytė

Kornelija Kunigonytė

Adviser for Communication

Lithuanian, English, Norwegian, Russian

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