Finland heads Nordic Council of Ministers
Finland will hold the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2011. The Presidency’s number one theme will be comprehensive management of climate change. The aim is to improve the Nordic countries’ role as a strong and unified player in climate issues.
In the program for the Presidency, Finland will focus on three priority areas: management of climate change, consolidation of the Nordic globalization initiatives, and status of grassroots action as the cornerstone of Nordic cooperation. The program also includes sector-specific plans and objectives, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ web site reads.
The Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation, working under Minister for Nordic Cooperation, Mr. Jan Vapaavuori, is charged with the coordination of Nordic cooperation. Each of the five Nordic countries holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers for one year at a time. The Council promotes and enhances practical cooperation in various sectors, most notably in the fields of culture, education and the environment.
The Nordic Council of Ministers, founded in 1971, is responsible for inter-governmental cooperation between the Nordic countries.
