Finnish and Åland co-presidency of the Nordic Council of

Åland: Siltanews – News Desk
In 2025, Finland and Åland will co-host the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The presidency program for 2025 was presented during the Session of the Nordic Council in Reykjavik. The Finnish and Ålandic co-presidency seeks to address three key areas: The welfare of children and young people, the bolstering of overall security, and improving Nordic competitiveness.

Finland and Åland will focus on the rights, welfare, and participation of children and young people in the Nordic Region. The presidency program states that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child should continue to be observed and followed. Children have the right to the protection and care they need, and the presidency program calls for the systematic monitoring of efforts relating to children and young people.

The presidency program highlights civil preparedness as an increasingly important area of co-operation spanning several of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ administrative sectors. It points to the Nordic countries’ strong freedom of the press and freedom of expression that, in combination with a media-literate population and a strong rule of law, provides a sound foundation for resisting external influences. The presidency program is seeking to establish overall and comprehensive preparedness for various crises and hybrid threats. The Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland shall also be given the opportunity to participate in this work.

For Åland, it is important to be part of co-operation efforts relating to civil preparedness. Located in the middle of the Baltic Sea, it’s vital that the country is an integral part of Nordic civil preparedness. To improve competitiveness presidency program states that the Nordic Region’s global economic position and competitiveness are crucial for ensuring the development of the business sector and the welfare of society. Going forwards, Nordic companies must have the capacity and ability to innovate and compete in global markets, which will be achieved by stepping up co-operation in the areas of innovation and sustainable solutions.

The Nordic Council of Ministers is working to deliver the Nordic prime ministers’ Vision 2030 to make the Nordic Region the most integrated and sustainable region in the world by 2030. Efforts to achieve these objectives are now entering their final, decisive stage. The aim of the co-operation programs of the various ministerial councils for 2025 to 2030 is now to deliver on the vision. The presidency program emphasizes that the three strategic priorities of a green, competitive, and socially sustainable Nordic Region continue to be the most important guidelines for Nordic co-operation.