2024 Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers

Culture is one of the foundations that connect the Nordic countries. An inclusive cultural scene in the Nordic region promotes democracy, diversity and quality of life. Nordic cultural cooperation therefore plays an important role in efforts to ensure a well-integrated and sustainable Nordic region – today and in the future.

In a joint statement, the Nordic and Baltic Ministers of Digitalisation emphasised the importance of enhanced cooperation concerning underwater infrastructure for electronic communication.

The Nordic Council held its 76th Session in Reykjavik on 28–31 October, with focus on peace and security in the Arctic and Nordic regions.

Today, October 29, at a meeting in the cooperation format between the Nordic Ministers for Foreign Affairs (N5) there was an exchange of views with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the Belarusian democratic forces in exile, on the situation in Belarus and on how best to support the Belarusian democratic movement.

When the Nordic Council holds its 76th Session in Reykjavik on 28–31 October, the focus will be on peace and security in the Arctic and Nordic regions.

A new Öresund Agreement that will make life easier for cross-border commuters, a joint declaration on competitiveness and security by Nordic heads of government, and consensus on how to raise the level of ambition in global environmental efforts. These are just a few examples of what has been achieved during the first six months of Sweden’s Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Over two days at the beginning of May, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand received her Nordic and Baltic colleagues in Stockholm. The meetings were held within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, which is the official body for intergovernmental cooperation in the Nordic region.

Today, Nordic heads of government signed a joint declaration on the future of Nordic competitiveness, growth and security. The declaration was signed in connection with the Nordic summit hosted by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on 13 May in Stockholm.

On 13–14 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will host the heads of government of the Nordic countries and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a summit in Stockholm.

Screen time’s impact on the health of children and young people was on the agenda when ministers from across the Nordic region met in Stockholm on 17 April. Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed hosted the meeting, which was under the auspices of the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers also discussed how Nordic cooperation against antimicrobial resistance can be strengthened.

On 8–9 April, Minister for EU Affairs Jessika Roswall represented the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers at the Nordic Council Theme Session.

More and more children and young people are becoming involved in criminal networks, and stopping recruitment requires early interventions, knowledge-based methods and collaboration. Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer and Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall therefore hosted Nordic countries, including the autonomous regions, for a discussion about children and young people who are, or risk being, involved in crime. The meeting was held within the framework of the ongoing Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

On 10–16 March, Minister for Gender Equality Paulina Brandberg is taking part in the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), also known as the UN women’s commission, in New York. The theme of this year’s session is combating poverty and how institutions and financing can be strengthened from a gender equality perspective. Ms Brandberg is also hosting the activities arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers, of which Sweden is holding the Presidency in 2024. Ms Brandberg will hold two policy speeches: Sweden’s policy speech and a policy speech for an LGBTI Core Group that includes Sweden.

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström presented the Government’s 2024 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. The Government’s most important foreign policy priorities are support to Ukraine, Sweden’s NATO membership and deepened cooperation in the neighbourhood.

On 14 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström presented the 2024 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

On Monday 5 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Minister for EU Affairs, with responsibility for Nordic affairs, Jessika Roswall informed the diplomatic corps of the priorities for the N5 and NB8 and the Nordic Council of Ministers, all of which will be chaired by Sweden this year. Around 100 diplomatic representatives attended the briefing.

Speech by Minister for EU Affairs, with responsibility for Nordic affairs, Jessika Roswall for the diplomatic corps at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, Monday 5 February. Check against delivery.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström for the diplomatic corps at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, Monday 5 February. Check against delivery.

Today is the first day of the one-year Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, the official body for intergovernmental cooperation in the Nordic region. The programme for the Swedish Presidency is based on the vision of the Nordic region being the world’s most integrated and sustainable region by 2030. A special priority of the Swedish Presidency is to eliminate border barriers and promote mobility and integration.