COPENHAGEN - The Nordic Council of Ministers’ action plan for Vision 2030 has been approved by the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation and runs from 2021 to 2024.
The action plan describes how the Nordic Council of Ministers will work to achieve the objectives of the vision through a series of initiatives linked to the vision’s three strategic priorities: a green Nordic Region, a competitive Nordic Region, and a socially sustainable Nordic Region.
There are 12 objectives linked to the strategic priorities. The strategic priorities and objectives govern all the activities of the Nordic Council of Ministers over the next four years. The action plan is divided into 12 sections, each one linked to one of the 12 objectives.
Governance, follow-up, and reporting
To ensure that efforts relating to Vision 2030 really have the desired results, a model is being established for ongoing evaluation and development. We’ve created a number of development indicators that allow us to monitor how work is progressing throughout the Nordic Region. At the same time, the collective effort in the work to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world is evaluated.
In particular, we will monitor the impact of the initiatives that have been adopted within Nordic co-operation and how they are contributing to the overall perception of the region. The results of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ work will be compiled by way of two reports. The reporting process for the action plan consists of a mid-term evaluation in the spring of 2022 and a final report to the Nordic prime ministers in the spring of 2024.
Interdisciplinary perspectives and increased involvement of civil society
In June 2020, the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation (MR-SAM) decided that in the period 2021 to 2024, the Nordic Council of Ministers should strengthen its co-operation with civil society in the Nordic Region. At the same time, a decision was also taken on the integration of three interdisciplinary perspectives in all work within the Nordic Council of Ministers.
The interdisciplinary perspectives that will touch on all activities in the Nordic Council of Ministers are:
1- Sustainable development
2- Gender equality
3- A children’s rights and youth perspective
Although the Nordic Council of Ministers already co-operates actively with civil society, the model that is now being applied introduces new focus areas and establishes clearer frameworks for co-operation. The involvement of civil society will be goal-oriented, with the support of a new Nordic civil society network. In addition, a structure for public consultation is being built on the website for Nordic co-operation: norden.org.
A support programme is being drawn up to give stakeholders in civil society the opportunity to apply for funding in order to come together across the Nordic countries. Through increased support for civil society organisations, the aim is to increase contact between the Nordic countries and thereby create a better understanding of one another’s languages and cultures. In addition to the newly established support programme, the Nordic Council of Ministers has several other programmes available to Nordic civil society organisations.
Cross-sectoral co-operation
A key objective of the action plan is to increase cross-sectoral co-operation within the Nordic Council of Ministers. In this way, the aim is to improve the quality and effectiveness of co-operation.
The Ministers for Nordic Co-operation have granted DKK 40 million per year in the period 2021 to 2024 to be spent on cross-sectoral projects. The cross-sectoral projects are included in the action plan for Vision 2030 and are linked to several of the 12 objectives for a green, competitive, and socially sustainable Nordic Region.
