Nordic cooperation including the Arctic

Maria Stockhaus (M)

Madam Speaker! I have had the privilege of being a member of the Nordic Council for quite a few years now and truly feel that the Nordics are home - not just Sweden is home, but the entire Nordic region is home for us. No matter where you go in the Nordics, you feel at home. We are a group of countries that are very like-minded in many issues and share deep historical, cultural, popular, and economic ties. Now that Sweden and Finland are finally in Nato, we have yet another opportunity to further deepen and strengthen both our military and civil defense.

When we had this debate a year ago, the Russian total brutality in Ukraine had been ongoing for a little more than a year. The war has now been ongoing for more than two years and looks set to continue, unfortunately. Our support in Ukraine is important, and we will do as much as we can for as long as it is needed. A free Ukraine is important for us, and there is nothing that creates more Nordic benefit than precisely peace and freedom.

Madam Speaker! One does not choose one's neighbors, but as the report notes, Nordic cooperation is the world's oldest cooperation of its kind. It includes Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Åland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The relationship is close and good, and we continue to continuously deepen it to reach the set vision of being the world's most integrated and sustainable region by 2030. To this shall also be added our ever closer ties with our neighbors on the other side of the Baltic Sea, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. We in Sweden have, in other words, very many good neighbors.

The situation created by Russia does, however, mean that certain parts of our cooperation must be intensified, especially regarding the building of robust societies. We now belong to the same defense organization with Nato, but we also have our own deepened cooperation, for example the Nordic defense cooperation Nordefco.

A very important area concerns military mobility, both within and between the countries. This presupposes an improved infrastructure, not only in the form of new projects but also by ensuring that the infrastructure that is already in place actually functions.

This also applies in peacetime. The Government stated in its communication that cross-border transport is of great importance for growth and development in the Nordic countries. The cross-border transports between the countries make it attractive to live, study and work across national borders. Just that possibility of moving freely and operating within the Nordic region is a major part of the core of our cooperation.

Good transport is a prerequisite for an integrated region. An improved transport infrastructure counteracts border barriers and increases trade and mobility, and if done in the right way, it is also good for the climate.

Madam Speaker! The Border Barrier Council reports that during 2023, they contributed to the removal of six border barriers. That is good, but there are many border barriers that still remain before we can reach our vision of being the most integrated region in the world. Things that should work throughout the Nordics, such as e-identification, stamps, customs, pensions, and Swish, do not. Therefore, the work of both dismantling current border barriers and preempting the emergence of new ones must be intensified and prioritized higher.

It is welcome that the Border Obstacle Council 2022 received a stronger mandate, but at the same time, the quantitative target for the work was lowered, i.e., the amount of border obstacles to be cleared per year. It is the wrong way to go when so much work remains. It may be that it is the most complicated border obstacles that actually remain where we stand now, but that does not mean we should lower the level of ambition.

My colleague Johan Hultberg developed this in an article on Friday. He describes boundary obstacles as pebbles in the shoe. They cause trouble. You get blisters, and it doesn't feel quite right when you are going to walk and move. He also highlights the Faroe Islands as a good example of how one can work to prevent the emergence of new boundary obstacles. There, they screen all new legislative proposals, partly based on existing boundary obstacles and partly to investigate whether new obstacles risk arising. It is a concrete way forward and an example to follow if we seriously want to reach the vision of the most sustainable and integrated region by 2030.

With that, Madam Speaker, I would like to move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Heléne Björklund (S)

Madam Speaker! Today we are debating the Committee on Foreign Affairs' report 4 on Nordic cooperation, a cooperation that is close to the hearts of us Social Democrats.

Our cooperation is not just a matter of common interests but a part of our shared history and our culture. The Nordic region is an important role model for how countries can work together to create strong and inclusive societies. Through our cooperation, we can exchange experiences to improve our social systems. We believe in a model where no one is left behind and where everyone has the opportunity to live a good and dignified life.

In the Nordic region, we have one of the oldest and most extensive regional collaborations in the entire world. Our cooperation is unique and rests on a solid foundation of shared history, common values, cultural heritage, geographical proximity, linguistic understanding, and strong economic ties. We have had open borders, free movement, and an integrated labor market for over 70 years. We also have an entrepreneurship that has made us successful and which has contributed to the fact that the Nordic brand is extremely strong. We are among the most highly educated populations in the world, and not least, the Nordic region is one of the most equal regions in the world.

It is the equality in the labor market that has contributed to the Nordic economic success. The proportion of Nordic women in the workforce is one of the highest in the world, and Nordic men hold world records in parental leave. This, of course, contributes to the fact that we in the Nordic region are among the richest in the world.

Cooperation in the Nordic Council has historically had a focus on issues concerning culture, the labor market, welfare, and climate. But after the pandemic and now during Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, issues of civil preparedness, security, and defense have gained an ever-increasing space. We Social Democrats welcome deepened cooperation also in these issues, not least in light of the NATO membership. At the same time, we want to be mindful so that issues of welfare, climate, and culture continue to be prioritized and a hallmark of our Nordic cooperation, for that is what has made us unique in the world.

Madam Speaker! Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine has united the Nordic countries even further and led both Sweden and Finland to become members of Nato. Now all countries around the Baltic Sea, except Russia, are allied in Nato.

We Social Democrats in Norden propose that the defense cooperation be strengthened even further, not only between our governments but also through our parliaments. Therefore, I move for approval of reservation 11 already now.

We propose that we establish a Nordic defense commission consisting of parliamentarians from all parliaments in the Nordic region. The task is to produce a report where political priorities within the security and defense area for the future are presented to the respective parliaments. Naturally, coordination shall take place with the different governments, but the most important ambition is the anchoring in the parliaments.

Main points in the work can be a joint security policy analysis of the developments in the Arctic, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea, as well as the development of total defense and a focus on cyber and information security. Can we also, based on the global situation, map our common resources in the Nordic region and competencies to meet the threat pictures; this would strengthen us in the Nordic region enormously.

With a strengthened and deepened Nordic cooperation, we can contribute to stability, peace and freedom in the Nordic region.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I believe that with lessons from the crises and wars of recent years, we can strengthen Nordic cooperation and realize the Prime Ministers' vision of becoming the world's most sustainable and integrated region.

As part of the vision work, many initiatives are now being undertaken for a greener Nordic region and for a responsible climate policy. This is good and important. One example is the Nordic ecolabel Svanen, which continues to develop criteria for good climate choices.

Our labor market and the economic development in the Nordic region depend on us taking the lead in the green transition. Ulf Kristersson's government has said that the vision of becoming the world's most sustainable and integrated region remains firm. We think that is good. Now the Swedish government must also take full responsibility for realizing it. This applies both to the green transition and to breaking down more border barriers.

In the Nordic Council, we have expressed a strong desire across party and national boundaries for a Nordic ministerial council for transport, transport, and infrastructure issues. Here, we Social Democrats in the Nordic Council want to remind that good communications are also important for growth and prosperity.

As chairperson of the Swedish delegation, I would like to thank the members from all parties for their great and strong commitment and high level of activity, but also for the consensus and respect within our Swedish delegation in the Nordic Council. I would also like to thank the responsible minister Jessica Roswall in advance for her commitment to Nordic affairs.

For the Social Democrats, I therefore move for approval of reservation 11 regarding a Nordic defense commission.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Kjell-Arne Ottosson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I can join in what the two previous speakers, our chair of the delegation Heléne Björklund and Maria Stockhaus, have said about all the advantages of the Nordic cooperation. It is only to underline and agree. It is truly in the Nordic cooperation that we can move forward together. Each on its own, the countries are not so large, but if we join together, we can achieve significantly greater miracles.

The cooperation has proven, just as we have heard, in large parts to be successful, but we have also seen when the cooperation has not functioned. It was clear during the pandemic, which we often return to. What I am, however, a little afraid of is that we, regardless of countries, have not learned anything from the pandemic – even if we have it in our memory – so that we end up there again at the next crisis. There I am afraid we have quite a long way to go.

In September last year, I was invited to the Border Regional Forum in Strömstad, where the minister also present here was also present. There were also representatives from counties along the border on both the Norwegian and Swedish sides. It was clear during our conversation that a representative from Innlandet county, who lived far into his county, in the middle of Norway, was surprised during our talk about the pandemic. The pandemic is over, was the reaction. Yes, it is, but we still have not finished with what we should do to not end up there again. It is clear that we must keep the pandemic high in our memory so that we do not forget to do the work.

Just as Ambassador Aud Kolberg has said, we are prepared for a crisis in one country, and then we step in and help each other. It was clear when, on my way here, I had a flash of a forest fire along the border back home in Värmland. Then, of course, fire trucks from both sides come and stand by. No problem. But it is when we are faced with a common crisis that we are still not prepared. That is where we have work to do.

We have a good Nordic-Baltic cooperation. It is clear how the Baltic Assembly wants to come even closer to us. They seek as much contact as possible, which we truly understand given their situation. It is extremely important that we strengthen the cooperation so that they feel that we stand on their side, not least in the situation that prevails now with the war in Ukraine.

Just as has also been mentioned, we finally have a solid defense cooperation with Nato. I don't remember who it was, but a Baltic parliamentarian was on a Swedish news broadcast, and it was that segment that made me stop hesitating and decided that it would obviously be a clear yes to Nato. It was precisely about that the Baltic side wants us with them so that they can feel even safer. It is an incredibly important part of the Nordic cooperation.

Then there is another cooperation body where some of us are members but others are not, namely the EU. There have been substantial discussions within the Nordic Council about how strongly engaged we should be in the EU. Should we have an EU office or not? Given what I said in my introduction, we are collectively, if nothing has happened since I last checked, the world's eleventh-largest economy, an enormous force in the work. It is very important so that we can get our Nordic values in at the same time as we ensure that we put a stop to some of the madness that we actually note coming from the Commission. There I believe that the Nordic Council could do even more jointly, which would be positive.

Nordic benefit is an expression that is often used in the Nordic Council. But unfortunately, Madam Speaker, I think we see a fair amount of issues, a shift, where member proposals are not about Nordic benefit, but it is about getting our ideology through. It is more important than Nordic benefit. I am a bit concerned about that path because I am afraid that it devalues the Nordic Council. Then the Nordic Council will not get the weight that the council should have. We must come back to what is the Nordic benefit, not what is the ideological benefit for my party group or my party. Then I am afraid we are wrong - precisely because the Nordic Council will be devalued.

Most of those sitting here in the chamber participate in our meetings in the Nordic Council and are well acquainted with the issues, but I still want to bring them up, just as I do almost every time I get the chance. In our chairmanship and presidency documents, we often highlight the big, fluffy, and fine goals, which of course everyone can stand behind. We want peace on earth, green forests, and all that, but one forgets everyday life. One forgets the everyday life for those who live and work in a border region. If we forget this, we are once again completely off the mark. We must come even further back to the foundation of Nordic cooperation. The foundation is, in many and many ways, mobility. Yes, it is about transport, but it is just as much about all other forms of mobility regarding studies and work.

Madam Speaker! We could change working methods so that we can become more efficient. In one of the two previous speeches, the path the Faroe Islands have taken was mentioned when they prepare new legislative proposals, so that new barriers are not built when new laws are prepared. That should be the default mode for all countries that are members of the Nordic Council.

We also mean that we must change the forms for recommendations. Today, they rely heavily on an individual member choosing to highlight a recommendation in their own parliament. We should find a way where it becomes the norm that all recommendations are raised automatically so that it does not depend on an individual member's will or interest. The cooperation would benefit from that.

Regardless of which party group we belong to in the Nordic Council or which party we sit in here in the Riksdag, everyone wants to reach the vision for 2030, which our prime ministers stand behind, of the Nordic region as the world's most sustainable and integrated region. But then, Madam Speaker, we must all take significantly longer steps than until now. Yes, it means that we have to tackle the complicated issues, for example regarding Nordic tax treaties and health insurance.

Now we have secured a new Öresund agreement, which is very pleasing. But there are more countries in the Nordic region, and there is more work to do. There we really must ensure that we manage to raise the issues so that we move forward. If there are any parts that can cause friction, some real stones in the shoe, it is tax issues, pension issues, and health insurance issues. It is crystal clear.

I had intended to say quite a bit more, Madam Speaker, but I note that my speaking time has ended. I thank you.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Christine Frohm (SD)

Madam Speaker! We begin with the technicalities, that is to say, the motions and reservations regarding the government's communication in the committee report.

Our Nordic cooperation involves, among others, the Sweden Democrats, and we have a number of reservations under consideration. I move for approval of our reservation number 4 under point 2, except for the part of point 2 where we have a special statement. The special statement concerns icebreaker capacity. The Sweden Democrats therefore do not follow up the motion with proposals for announcement as found in the reservation, but instead refer to the ongoing process as set out in the committee's position.

Madam Speaker! The Nordic cause is ours. Our entry together with Finland into Nato has changed the Nordic playing field since we last debated in the chamber. The Government, in its foreign policy declaration 2024 on the occasion of Sweden's membership in Nato, expresses that Sweden's foreign and security policy is based on the cohesion in the EU and Nato as well as on cooperation in the Nordic and Baltic Sea region as well as within the UN and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Government further states that when the security policy pattern in our part of the world changes, new opportunities for deepened cooperation between like-minded neighbors in the Nordic and in the Baltic region arise, and that Sweden shall participate in developing this during the coming year. Very well.

Madam Speaker! The Sweden Democrats believe that Sweden's foreign policy should primarily be based on Swedish interests and take advantage of these in the regions that have the greatest impact on Sweden. The Arctic is a region where Sweden is included, and developments in the Nordic region and the Arctic Ocean, and the adjacent land areas, affect Sweden. From this starting point, it is very important that there is a well-developed Swedish strategy for which areas should be prioritized in the Arctic and why.

The great power competition over the Arctic has been ongoing ever since World War II, with an interruption when the Soviet Union was dissolved. The interest has primarily concerned the ability of the USA and Russia to act against each other with strategic weapons systems. The shortest route for bomber aircraft and missile systems to deliver effects has been and still is over the Arctic. Sweden has been directly affected by this arms race in the Arctic, among other things through radioactive fallout from the nuclear weapons tests that the Soviet Union conducted in the Barents Sea.

Madam Speaker! Arctic indigenous peoples consist of several peoples in the Arctic region, and these peoples need to be given the opportunity to develop on their own terms without unjustified outside interference. The indigenous peoples in the Arctic and other ethnic groups have a unique cultural heritage that has developed over millennia and been shaped by the specific environmental conditions found in the Arctic. This cultural heritage needs to be protected throughout the Arctic, but there are worrying reports that not all peoples in the Arctic can have their rights met. In Sweden, the Sami culture and the culture of the Northerners who have operated in the Arctic need to be preserved.

From the EU's perspective, there is an interest in participating in the Arctic Council as an observer. We believe it is important to carefully consider whether the EU should be an observer in the Arctic Council. If there are sufficient reasons for the EU to be represented in the Arctic Council, it should be particularly taken into account that no duplication of work occurs between the EU and those Member States that are already represented in the Council.

Madam Speaker! The Nordic cooperation is the world's oldest of its kind. The Nordic Council was formed in 1952, has 87 members and represents five countries and three self-governing territories. The Helsinki Treaty entered into force in 1962, has been revised several times and was recently up for discussion in the Nordic Council. According to the agreement, the cooperation covers social and legal issues, culture, economy, business, communications, environment and security. The Helsinki Treaty does not, however, exclude cooperation even in other areas, and therefore the agreement is at regular intervals subject to development and revision.

A particularly prioritized area within our Nordic cooperation shall be to curb border barriers. The work to try to remove border barriers that exist between our Nordic countries and our citizens takes place primarily in the Border Barriers Council. The Border Barriers Council is a politically appointed but independent body whose mandate is to promote mobility between the Nordic countries. The Council identifies, prioritizes, and proposes solutions for border barriers. How then is the work of removing the identified border barriers proceeding? The outcome is unfortunately not quite what was desired. During 2023, only 5 of the 34 border barriers were removed. There is undoubtedly potential for improvement.

Perhaps it is high time for self-criticism. Perhaps it is the case that we all, including my party and my party group, need to take to heart the failure to carry out the Nordic Council's core mission and reflect on our part in this. Perhaps it is the case that everyone needs to tone down other proposals and instead value the Nordic benefit higher and concentrate our time on clearing just the border obstacles.

When our countries were subjected to the enormous crisis that the corona pandemic entailed, a multitude of problems arose for the inhabitants of the Nordics, and a number of border obstacles that had never been encountered before were revealed. It became a major problem for many commuters when the borders within the Nordics were closed.

The questions we were suddenly faced with were: In which country should a worker be taxed when working from home? How should crossing the border occur smoothly for all residents who live and work on different sides of the border when it is closed? How do we facilitate for residents to seek healthcare in another Nordic country without it ruining them financially? If Sweden's residents today need care in another country, they must bear the cost themselves and then seek reimbursement from Försäkringskassan. This means that one may need to lay out quite large sums of money that one does not know if one will get back.

These were some examples of the boundary obstacles we identified.

The Sweden Democrats believe that Nordic cooperation should be prioritized as far as possible and that we should, instead of closing the borders between us, guard, protect and close the Nordic outer border.

In this speech, Staffan Eklöf (SD) agreed.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Anna Starbrink (L)

Madam Speaker! The Nordic cooperation has been filled with new strength. That all Nordic countries are part of the defense alliance and the peace organization Nato signifies an epochal shift in our common commitment to openness, freedom, and security in the Nordic region. Our neighboring countries are our loyal friends, and we move together towards the future. This applies to all five member countries as well as the three autonomous areas in the Nordic Council. I also want to include our Baltic neighbors in our closest circle.

Together, the Nordic countries are a significant force economically and politically, as well as in our common will to create an integrated region. This year, Sweden leads the Nordic Council of Ministers, and next year we take over the chairmanship of the Nordic Council. Sweden thus has the best conditions to push for even deeper cooperation.

Madam Speaker! We must not forget the terrible pandemic and how we in the Nordic countries failed to hold together. Instead, we closed borders, and discord arose between good friends. Let us learn from this. We must never again close our Nordic borders in the way that occurred during the pandemic. People living at the border must be able to rely on that openness and freedom prevail and that we get through the difficulties together.

Let me raise some important and current issues that I wish the Nordic cooperation would address.

Several speakers have said that the border obstacles must be removed, and it is pleasing that there is a broad consensus here. Our joint border obstacle council works to identify and solve problems with border obstacles. The Liberals would like to see a common Nordic approach to prevent new border obstacles from arising. This means that in the Nordic cooperation, as far as possible, we must collaborate on the implementation of new laws and regulations. It is especially important to think this way ahead of the election to the European Parliament.

The decisions made in the EU affect us to a great extent, and we must cooperate in the Nordic region to create reality in a way that works and that embraces our openness towards one another. Even though the committee here does not see a need for cooperation regarding the implementation of EU rules, we from the Liberals' side argue that this is instead a long-term task within the Nordic Council.

The next issue that I mean we need to place high on the agenda is to continue promoting our cooperation - to modernize the Helsinki Accords. Several have touched upon this previously. As the committee points out, the Nordic Council has appointed a working group with the aim of reviewing the need to develop the Helsinki Accords. The issue will be discussed further during the autumn in the Nordic Council.

From the Liberals' side, the matter is clear: It is high time to change the Helsinki Accords. Without an agreement update, our Nordic cooperation risks stagnating and losing relevance. The demands to complement and update the Helsinki Accords have become stronger and more numerous after Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine and thereby dramatically worsened the security situation. The fact that all Nordic countries are now members of Nato makes the issue even more relevant.

In many areas, Nordic cooperation has experienced a renaissance since the beginning of the 2010s, but there is still an upper limit to what the cooperation can achieve. That limit is set by the Helsinki Treaty, which does not give the existing common bodies a mandate to fully drive cooperation regarding the foreign, security, and defense policy areas. The responsibility currently lies with the national bodies and authorities. A parliamentary anchoring is lacking that actively creates new initiatives which the member countries can then decide upon.

Madam Speaker! The Nordic people appreciate the Nordic cooperation. It is our responsibility to manage and concretize the goodwill that exists. The responsibility obliges us to act now and ensure that the cornerstone of the Nordic cooperation, the Helsinki Treaty, is at a level where the Nordic countries are ready for both present and future challenges and can take the lead when needed.

Let me conclude by pointing out the great importance of us also maintaining an open and close contact with our neighboring countries in the Baltics in the Nordic cooperation. The Baltics and the Nordics have everything to gain from a close and trusting cooperation. This applies not least to security policy issues but also to other areas, such as digitalization and of course our shared sea, the Baltic Sea - all to improve and build a good future for all of us who live here.

Madam Speaker! With this, I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lorena Delgado Varas (V)

Madam Speaker! I would like to begin by moving to approve reservations 8 and 10.

There is an enormous potential for cooperation in the Nordic region. In the Nordic region, we have succeeded in building societies that have shown that through social construction, one can change living conditions, opportunities, and the future for those who live here. Despite the fact that this social construction has received not just one but several setbacks, we have nevertheless shown that it is possible. With more political will and democratic values, we can probably succeed in developing this further.

I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the values that Nordisk grön vänster, that is, the Nordic left-wing parties' group in the Nordic Council, preferably works with. Values that we bring with us in the Nordic cooperation are solidarity, human rights, following and achieving the global goals, anti-racism, equality, openness and peace. When we talk about Nordic values, these are the ones we carry with us.

In the Nordic countries, you should feel safe and included, regardless of your background or gender identity, regardless of whether your parents were born here or if you came here in hope of a safer life, regardless of whether you have a disability and regardless of whether you are old or young.

Nordisk grön vänster has submitted a number of proposals in the Nordic Council. We have had some pretty good recommendations passed, for example regarding common freight transport, passenger trains, proposals for joint vaccine production and emergency stockpiles - so not just international issues, I can point out to Member Kjell-Arne Ottosson - and furthermore that the Nordic Council should have Sami representation and that we should have anti-racist curricula in the Nordic countries. The recommendation here is to conduct a mapping of how an anti-racist perspective is highlighted in the Nordic countries' curricula, among other things.

Madam Speaker! All Nordic countries agreed in 2015 to adopt the UN's Agenda 2030 and its goals for sustainable development. The first sustainability goal is to eradicate all forms of poverty. Unfortunately, Save the Children's report from 2023 shows that the Nordic countries are further from fulfilling these goals than when we signed the decision on Agenda 2030. The only country that has succeeded in reducing child poverty during this period is Iceland.

According to Save the Children, Sweden is the country in the Nordic region with the highest figures - every fifth child grows up in relative child poverty. Finland's Social and Health Administration warns that deteriorations in unemployment benefits and housing allowances could lead to an additional 12,700 children falling into poverty in Finland. The same thing is repeated in the other countries.

The Nordic Council's vision is that the region shall be the world's most sustainable region by 2030. This means that we must take the UN's sustainability goals and the work against poverty seriously. Therefore, Nordic Green Left submitted a member proposal to the Council to investigate what creates and maintains child poverty in the Nordic countries and that an action plan should be made to reduce the number of children living in relative child poverty.

Thanks to the initiative of Nordisk grön vänster, the Nordic Council of Ministers has now allocated 1 million Danish kroner in its budget for 2024 to produce a report on child poverty in the Nordic region. We hope that this will provide a basis for being able to work away child poverty.

It is our cooperation that strengthens the entire region. The issue of border obstacles is a priority for Nordic cooperation. The idea is that we shall become the most cohesive region; many of us have said that. We shall remove all administrative obstacles to achieve this.

We still have not recovered from the knowledge that the Nordic cooperation was not as cohesive as we thought. During the pandemic, the Nordic countries were unfortunately incredibly quick to build up the obstacles that we have worked for decades to remove.

This is an important work that must be sustainable, even through crises. We therefore need to strengthen the foundation, the welfare, so that Nordic people shall feel that it is safe to go to work, that one can commute in the Nordic region, that one has the right to healthcare and education and that one receives their social rights. We need to find common solutions that make us stand stronger during crises. This applies during pandemics, but it also applies now during the climate crisis when we begin to see its consequences.

Today, the security issue has become increasingly important, even within the Nordic Council. We have held a number of extended meetings on security. There, the question of the Arctic is incredibly important. The Arctic is an area of great interest to various great powers, such as the USA, Russia, and China. The Arctic is an area with great mineral wealth and important strategic shipping lanes. It is a unique and sensitive environment and an area that we have not had enough focus on.

If one looks at the causes of conflicts and wars around the world, one sees that the common denominator is most often natural resources, in particular oil and gas. Despite the fact that the Arctic is not only an important area in terms of climate but also an area that includes parts of Sweden, it has been a forgotten area.

Now the Arctic has become increasingly important, and we see this also within the Nordic Council, where more and more people want to come and listen. The most important thing now is that we get rid of the dependence on fossil sources so that we do not end up in a position of dependency to several great powers. This applies not only in Sweden and the Nordic countries but also globally. Therefore, we in Vänsterpartiet want sharper demands and conditions through Sweden's and the EU's foreign and trade policy, in order to drive forward the global climate work and protect the Arctic and other sensitive environmental areas against the exploitation of oil and fossil gas.

We mean that Sweden should work for an international ban on subsidies for fossil fuels, both for the climate and for de-escalation. We also want a demilitarized zone to be created in the Arctic, and we are actively working to get the countries in the Arctic to agree to this.

Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have been clear that the Arctic must remain a low-tension area. They are important voices in this work and essential in the Nordic Council. I therefore want to direct criticism at the fact that the Swedish government did not invite Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland to the summit.

In times of crisis and unrest, we need unifying forces, not divisive ones. Our cooperation is built on trust, respect, and inclusion. Now we risk not including these countries when we talk about the Nordic region, and this benefits neither us nor the rest of the world. I hope that the update of the Helsinki Treaty gives these countries the right to decide for themselves whether they want to be full members of the Nordic Council or not.

Another part of the work that we see a need to strengthen is human rights in the Nordic region. The Nordic region has long been seen as a pioneer in many issues that have not been self-evident throughout history and are absolutely not self-evident in other parts of the world. This is something we should be proud of, carry forward, and develop further. This applies to LGBTQ+ issues, and it applies to disability rights and social rights. In today's debate climate, it is easy to forget what people outside the Nordic region think of and highlight when the Nordic region is mentioned, namely precisely these issues.

The Nordic region is an important voice in the world and can make a difference. Therefore, it was incredibly important that the Nordic Council spoke out on peace in Palestine, something that we have encouraged.

Finally, I want to highlight the indigenous peoples. We need to recognize that we are multicultural societies where indigenous peoples have special rights that we must respect and build structures for. Indigenous areas are often under high exploitation, something that does not benefit the indigenous peoples. They often do not have enough power or resources to be able to participate in the processes, and this is something that we must strengthen in the Nordic countries.

Madam Speaker! I would like to take this opportunity to send a greeting to all those who are now graduating from upper secondary school. You are the future, and if you choose to continue your studies at a university or college, I hope that you will receive a higher education that does not support universities built on occupied land or contribute to technology and methods used in genocides such as the one we see in Palestine today.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Catarina Deremar (C)

Madam Speaker! Nordic cooperation is important for those of us who live in the Nordic region, but also for spreading our Nordic values, based on all people's equal rights and value and that one should be allowed to choose what life one wants to live and with whom. There are many reasons to continue to deepen and develop Nordic cooperation. We in the Nordic region shall benefit from one another. Together we become a stronger voice in Europe and in the world.

Our cooperation is regulated in the Helsinki Treaty. It has been a number of years since it was last revised, and much has happened. The climate issue is at a completely different level, technological development has moved forward strongly, and the entire digitalization has taken enormous steps. Another major change is that we are now all members of Nato.

We are now in a process aimed at revising the Helsinki Treaty once again. The purpose of the modernization of the treaty should be to further strengthen the Nordic countries' cooperation and to more clearly adapt the treaty to today's challenges.

Madam Speaker! In order for us to achieve Nordic benefit, we need to constantly identify and remedy the barriers that exist or, even better, ensure that barriers do not arise. This work must be under constant scrutiny in the Nordic cooperation so that we can be of Nordic benefit for those of us who live and work in the Nordic region.

Annually, reports are presented on existing barriers, new barriers, and which barriers have been resolved during the year. It is clear that more needs to be done. For example, we need a closer dialogue when EU rules are implemented, as there are examples of how barriers have arisen due to a lack of dialogue between the Nordic countries.

In order for people to be able to fully benefit from the freedom of movement within the Nordic region, it is central that transport and communications function in a satisfactory manner. Modern technology enables a transition to common ticketing systems within public transport. I am not saying that it is easy. It can be difficult even between regions in Sweden, but it must be an aspiration that we aim for.

I want to see increased cooperation regarding the expansion of public transport in various forms as well as coherent railway corridors. In line with this, the Nordic countries should strive to facilitate joint planning of infrastructure projects that are of significance for border regions and that facilitate mobility.

Forms are needed for closer cooperation between national infrastructure authorities as well as between municipalities and regions across national borders. All of this underscores the need for a Nordic council for infrastructure and transport issues, something that the Nordic Council has repeatedly requested.

Madam Speaker! We followed Finland in the Nato process. Now the Finnish government has changed its stance on the issue of a ministerial council for infrastructure, so it is time for the Swedish government to follow Finland even in this matter.

Madam Speaker! The Nordic Council of Ministers' strategy for 2030 implies that they want to see the Nordic region as the world's most integrated and climate-smart region. Over a series of years, we have noted alarming tendencies towards the culture and education sector being deprioritized. Large-scale savings have been implemented. This is something that I regret. The opportunity for young people and students to freely explore within the Nordic region and the cooperation regarding culture, language, and research have long been central parts of the Nordic cooperation. People meet, learn, and converse. In this way, Madam Speaker, we strengthen the bonds between the countries.

Madam Speaker! Nordic cooperation can neither nor should be confined solely to its internal affairs. As I began by saying, we should be a strong voice in the world. In a time when the global situation is extremely concerning, the Nordic region must also be an international voice for democracy, openness, freedom, and human rights. There is a long line of areas within the Nordic countries where we can make a difference together. One such area concerns supporting students and researchers in unstable countries.

In Norway, there is a project called Students at Risk. It is a program that has been introduced in Norwegian universities in cooperation between student organizations and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to offer study places in Norway for students who have been excluded from their educational institutions due to political engagement. Centerpartiet has contributed to pushing the issue that this work should be expanded in the Nordic region and not remain solely a Norwegian phenomenon. So far, the Council of Ministers' response has been that they consider this to be a national matter. With today's global situation, it is difficult for me to share that view. I mean that the Swedish government should actively work to ensure that joint Nordic initiatives to support students in unstable countries come to fruition.

Furthermore, Madam Speaker, I believe that the government needs to review its position and change its mind regarding funds for UWC Red Cross Nordic, which Sweden was once a co-founder of and which was thereby able to start. Here, I expect the government to do over and do right for more exchange between youth from all over the world in a fantastic Nordic study environment.

Madam Speaker! I move for approval of the Center Party's reservation number 3.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! Today we are debating the Committee on Foreign Affairs' report Nordic cooperation including the Arctic. These are two important issues that have somewhat different characters. Nordic cooperation concerns issues that our authorities and departments work on daily and is so self-evident that when we travel to Finland or Norway we hardly think about the fact that we are traveling abroad at all. Therefore, I hardly even think of Nordic cooperation as a foreign policy issue. This is reflected somewhat in how the speaking list looks for this debate. Very few people from the Committee on Foreign Affairs are participating in the debate. Much wise has already been said about Nordic cooperation, so I will primarily focus on the Arctic.

Madam Speaker! The world is in a situation that requires a very rapid green societal transition. At the same time, the effects of environmental destruction and climate change will have increasingly greater consequences for more and more people for a long time to come. Miljöpartiet wants Sweden to take a leading role in solving the global climate crisis. We do this best by living up to our climate promises: to reduce our own emissions to a sustainable level and to help poor countries manage the climate transition.

An area where it is important for Sweden to take the international lead is the protection of the Arctic. Life in the Arctic faces great challenges. Global warming has hit the Arctic and its inhabitants particularly hard. The climate and environmental changes are dramatic in the area. The ice is melting and affecting the biodiversity and the living conditions for the population in the region. The indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable, especially since they often do not own the land they cultivate.

Madam Speaker! The reduced ice cover creates new opportunities to extract natural resources in the area, and new shipping lanes for maritime transport become possible. Interest in the region has therefore increased among both Arctic and non-Arctic states as the ice melts away. The fossil era is over, and no extraction of fossil energy in the area shall take place. We need to become more proactive in reducing emissions and powerfully drive forward so that the global goals for sustainable development are reached in the Nordic countries. The indigenous peoples shall be given greater influence over how the land and seas in the Arctic are used.

The seabed around the North Pole is also considered to contain large amounts of natural resources, including valuable minerals. Drilling for gas, minerals, or oil in the Arctic's extremely sensitive nature and environment is devastating. This applies both in the seas as well as on land. We in Miljöpartiet want these natural resources to remain under the seabed. As one of the eight Arctic countries in the Arctic Council, Sweden should work for a ban on all forms of extraction of fossil fuels and minerals in the Arctic and in the seas outside the Arctic.

Madam Speaker! Increased military presence and activity in the Arctic region has security policy consequences. In light of Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cooperation with Russia in the Arctic Council has been put on pause. At the same time, we see how China is expressing more and more interest in the Arctic region. The Arctic Council has been a symbolically important bridge-building project between East and West after the end of the Cold War. Diplomacy and dialogue must always constitute Sweden's first line of defense. While we support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom, we must also work so that, when it is finally possible, we can resume cooperation and coordination in the Arctic Council. To prohibit the extraction of minerals and fossil energy in the Arctic is also a way to protect the sensitive nature from becoming a pawn in a geopolitical game that could worsen the security situation for Sweden and other Arctic countries.

Madam Speaker! Sweden is an Arctic country. Therefore, we have a special interest and responsibility to contribute to constructive international cooperation in the Arctic region. It is crucial for continued stability in the Arctic that the states concerned manage their claims to the continental shelf through the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and accept advisory outcomes of the assessment. In the same way, it is central that the right to freedom of navigation along the Northeast and Northwest Passages in accordance with the law of the sea is upheld and that disputes regarding restrictions on freedom of navigation in these sea routes can be resolved through diplomatic means.

Madam Speaker! Decisions made today will affect the Arctic region for many hundreds of years to come. Sweden shall contribute to a stable, peaceful and sustainable development in the region. Therefore, it is important with well-functioning international cooperation and a continued and reinforced dialogue with Arctic and non-Arctic actors in the region.

The UN agreed in 2023 on a new global ocean treaty that is to provide protection for the biodiversity in the oceans that lie outside national legal boundaries. The world's countries have also committed to protecting 30 percent of the earth's oceans by 2030. If not the Arctic oil countries and we rich countries with the best conditions to transition to a sustainable and climate-neutral society manage to stand up for the oceans and the climate, who then will do it? And if not now, when?

With that, I move for approval of the Miljöpartiets reservation number 13.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)

Madam Speaker! Nordic cooperation rests on a solid foundation. We have a common history, geographical proximity, linguistic understanding, and strong economic and popular ties. The uncertain global situation and Finland's and Sweden's entry into Nato have further strengthened our relations not only within the Nordic region but also around the entire Baltic Sea. Our cooperation is now deeper and more important than ever in modern times.

This year, Sweden is chair of both the Nordic Council and the informal Nordic and Nordic-Baltic foreign and security policy cooperation N5 and NB8. In the current situation of unrest and lack of freedom in our surrounding world, it is an extra burden of responsibility to lead and deepen the Nordic and the Nordic-Baltic cooperation.

Our cooperation is broad, and our solidarity is about so much more than external threats. It is important to have strong and close ties and to share experiences and learn from each other in a multitude of different areas. Nordic and Nordic-Baltic cooperation, as well as safeguarding and developing our bilateral relations with our neighboring countries, is therefore a high priority for the government.

This is clearly evident both from the government declarations and in the foreign policy declarations that the government has presented, and it is manifested, not least, through a frequent bilateral Nordic exchange of visits at both the political level and the expert level. We have recently had a Finnish and a Danish state visit, and last week the Prime Minister hosted a summit on security and competitiveness here in Stockholm with the heads of government of the Nordic countries and Germany's Federal Chancellor. All of this underscores how highly the government values the Nordic exchange.

Madam Speaker! Today I am here to speak about Nordic cooperation, based on the communication that the government submitted to the Riksdag on March 19 and the Committee on Foreign Affairs' report. In the communication, the government accounts for the activities in 2023, with a focus on the Nordic Council of Ministers.

I thought I would start by making a few points from last year, but since it is almost halfway through the chairmanship in the Nordic Council, I also thought I would take the opportunity to say something about our priorities and what has happened since we took over at the turn of the year. After that, I look forward to speaking about how we build the already good Nordic cooperation even stronger.

By 2030, the Nordic region shall become the world's most sustainable and integrated region. This vision has been the guiding star in Nordic cooperation since 2019. We shall utilize our potential to lead the way in the green transition, further increase our competitiveness, and meet our citizens' expectations for a more integrated Nordic region.

We are now halfway through that work, and therefore a status report for the vision was produced last year. The report shows that we have come a good way. Development has progressed furthest within the areas a competitive Nordic and a socially sustainable Nordic, while there are greater challenges with the area a green Nordic, including regarding our unsustainable consumption and production.

I will give some examples where we took steps in the right direction last year, that is, in the direction of the vision.

A large proportion of the citizens in the Nordic countries who have interests in social care need healthcare throughout the Nordic region. For them, it does not matter who is responsible for what; it must work and be coordinated. The Nordic project on integrated care and social services with digital remote solutions focuses on rural areas, where the shortage of healthcare personnel is particularly precarious. Through digital solutions, care and social services are integrated to increase accessibility to welfare services. All regions are currently working to some extent with remote solutions.

A number of initiatives were carried out last year linked to the green transition. The Nordic countries, for example, continued their work to create green corridors for emission-free shipping. The cooperation takes place, among others, with engine manufacturers, shipowners, producers of renewable energy, research institutes, and maritime administrations.

During the high-level week in connection with the opening of the UN General Assembly last year, the Nordic countries presented a report with 15 global measures that can bring plastic pollution to an end by 2040. The report is a contribution to the negotiations on a new international agreement against plastic pollution. For example, the production of new plastic with these measures can be reduced by 30 percent by 2040. This report received wide distribution and attention.

The final example is that the Nordic and Baltic digitalization ministers adopted a joint declaration regarding cross-border identity matching in the region.

Madam Speaker! It is not long until 2030, and we have a good way to go before we reach the vision. That is why it is extremely important that we try to speed up and concretize our work. When we now look beyond 2024, it is about setting clear goals and priorities in the continued vision work.

As part of this, work was initiated last year in all ministerial councils to develop so-called cooperation programs for their respective sectors for the period 2025-2030 with clear objectives and priorities. The Nordic Council and actors within civil society in the Nordic region have been engaged and contributed in the form of proposals for priorities. These programs will be formally adopted during this year and constitute the basis for the action plan to be followed from 2025 onwards. I believe that it is an important part for us to be able to reach our vision.

Madam Speaker! What do we do then during the Swedish presidency of the Nordic Council? As Nordic Minister, I am responsible, under the Prime Minister, for the coordination of Nordic cooperation within the framework of the Council. But the broad and important work is carried out in twelve council constellations, so we are many ministers who have a shared responsibility for achieving a good and results-oriented presidency.

The vision even for our Nordic presidency is a safer, greener and freer Norden. Norden shall become safer by strengthening our ability to together resist and manage crises at all levels. Norden shall become greener by being a pioneer in a competitive and innovation-driven transition, both at home and by promoting Nordic green solutions in the rest of the world. Norden shall become freer through a policy for increased growth, a competitive business sector and a deepened Nordic integration.

Under the chairmanship, we place a special focus on challenges and opportunities that are significant for mobility and an integrated Norden, which several of your others have touched upon here today. From the Swedish side, we want to ensure that the work moves forward and solves concrete problems, but also raise the issue and emphasize the opportunities. This is an area that I, as Norden Minister, prioritize highly, and I do what I can to drive the issue forward at the Nordic, bilateral, and national level.

I ensure that mobility and border barrier issues are on the agenda for all cooperation minister meetings that I chair during the year. At my last minister meeting in April, Sweden's representative to the Border Barriers Council, Anders Ahnlid, participated, and we then had a discussion regarding the work on tax-related border barriers.

In this area, we have recently achieved a success, which Kjell-Arne Ottosson highlighted here earlier. It is very pleasing that Sweden and Denmark, in connection with the state visit, agreed on a new Öresund agreement. The purpose is primarily to simplify things for cross-border commuters and their employers and thereby achieve a better functioning labor market in Öresund. The ambition is to sign the agreement as soon as possible so that it can enter into force next year.

We hope and believe that a removal of this border barrier will result in more people utilizing the common labor market in the Öresund region, where there is a large untapped potential, as well as that the agreement can serve as inspiration for handling other tax-related border barriers both bilaterally and multilaterally. Tax-related border barriers will also be on the finance ministers' agenda when they meet in the Nordic Council of Ministers in a few weeks.

During the Midsummer week, I will host the cooperation ministers' summer meeting in Malmö, with a focus on different aspects of an integrated Norden. We are also working at the national level for clearer and better working methods, which some of you have raised. This involves, among other things, creating a common commitment so that we all have the same objective.

In addition to the work that takes place in the Nordic Council and nationally, it is of course also important to work bilaterally to promote integration and remove border barriers. I therefore prioritize meetings with my Nordic ministerial colleagues as well as with chambers of commerce, information services, and border committees in border regions and in capitals.

Like the Nordic cooperation, our chairmanship has a great breadth. In total, Sweden will be responsible for organizing a hundred meetings at different levels, both digitally and physically. We have a score of ministerial-level meetings from Skellefteå in the north all the way down to Malmö in the south. I thought I would take a few examples, even though my speaking time is starting to run out.

In connection with the UN Commission on the Status of Women, we had a meeting at a Nordic event on the area of equality where the importance of a joint effort for equality, women's and girls' opportunities as well as rights for hbtqi-persons was discussed.

We recently arranged a meeting with the Ministers for Justice and Social Services on the theme of children and young people in crime.

This year we celebrate 70 years of a common Nordic labor market, which we will mark in June. At that meeting, I will participate, among others, as will our Nordic colleagues. The Minister for Employment, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council, and the Border Obstacles Council will also participate in the meeting.

At the beginning of May, the Nordic Ministers of Education and Culture signed a joint updated Nordic Language Declaration. The goal is for the declaration to lay the foundation for an overall, unified, long-term and effective language policy.

Infrastructure issues have been raised here earlier today. They are, of course, extremely important. Even though there is no transport minister council, there is integrated work, and this is high on our agenda. Several informal ministerial meetings will take place during the year.

I finally want to mention the Nordic-Baltic cooperation. The Nordic Council has, as is well known, for a long time had a good cooperation with the Baltic countries, not least through the three offices that were established in the Baltic countries during the 90s.

From the Swedish side, we see great potential in expanded Nordic-Baltic cooperation in a number of different areas. It is about continuing to develop cooperation within the framework of the digitalization cooperation I mentioned earlier. It is also about education and research, culture, health preparedness, the sustainability of social insurances, cybersecurity, and crime in the working life.

The cooperation will be taken forward in various ways during the Swedish presidency. One concrete example is that Sweden, at the beginning of May, invited a Nordic-Baltic meeting of culture ministers to discuss preparedness in the cultural sector in the event of a crisis, high alert, or war.

Within the framework of our NB8 chairmanship in the informal foreign and security policy cooperation, there is also high activity. At the beginning of April, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström hosted this year's meeting at the foreign minister level in the NB8 circle. The meeting took place in Visby, and on the agenda were issues concerning Nato, Russia, Belarus, and the continued support for Ukraine. In connection with the meeting, a high-level group was launched that is to function as expert support for Ukraine's government during the EU accession process.

As you can see, it is an extensive and exciting work that is underway, and we expect the upcoming chairmanships to follow up on this. There is a broad engagement and a broad consensus in the Riksdag. I and my colleagues will, together with the Riksdag, continue to stand up and work for Nordic cooperation in various contexts at both national and bilateral levels, entirely in accordance with our vision.

In conclusion, I would also like to thank for a very good cooperation with the Riksdag, in particular with the Nordic Council's Swedish delegation.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Alexandra Anstrell (M)

Madam Speaker! A modern and proactive Arctic policy is central to Swedish and transatlantic security. Arctic knowledge becomes one of the most important pieces of knowledge we take with us into the NATO cooperation. A proactive NATO and security policy therefore presupposes a clear and well-founded Arctic policy.

The Arctic faces a number of difficult problems that are worsening at an ever-increasing pace. The effects of climate change on the Arctic not only lead to the situation and environment of the local population deteriorating but also have a global impact. Melting ice sheets and permafrost create an impossible living situation for certain animal species, increase sea levels, and also entail other risks. Global warming also opens up new geographical areas for the exploitation of natural resources, which risks accelerating the process.

It is important that Sweden continues to work long-term with sustainable development, research, and environmental protection in the region. A strengthened work with environmental and climate issues is therefore not only an important security interest for Sweden but also an opportunity to manage the region in an economically sustainable way.

Climate change also leads to the fact that new trade routes, such as the Northeast Passage north of Russia, can be opened commercially, which will create new global trade flows and strategic interests. This is something that is already being exploited by Russia, as they prevent free maritime traffic in the area by invoking Russian legislation over international maritime law.

It takes approximately 60 percent less time to travel from Europe to Asia with this route, which provides the opportunity to change the global trade dynamics. More and more countries have realized this. More and more nations and organizations, such as Japan, South Korea, China and the EU, are also creating strategies for this development. In order for trade to continue to flow smoothly, it is absolutely central that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is followed.

Russia and China are pooling their resources to increase their influence in the Arctic. Russia has for a long time held a dominant position in the area with military bases and, not least, a high-tech and modern fleet. Russia has primarily three goals with its Arctic policy: to protect ports and thereby gain access to the seas, to ensure control over the Northeast Passage, and to secure the natural resources that are now becoming accessible through the melting of the Arctic sea ice.

The country's actions in the area have caused not least Norway, Finland and Denmark to react, which has led to them strengthening their positions in the region. From Sweden's side, we need to analyze this more closely to see how we, together with others, can protect strategic assets and identify the threats we may come to face in the short and long term.

China considers itself to have a right to influence, power, and access in the Arctic areas and constitutes a party to be reckoned with. For several years, the country has invested in strategic infrastructure in the region and has invested in starting an Arctic Silk Road. However, the investments have largely been made impossible outside of Russia – they have been stopped by, among others, Norway and Finland. Regardless of this, it is important to observe the changing dynamics in the relationship between Russia and China in the coming years. The Arctic will play an ever greater role there. We can already now see Chinese research stations both in Svalbard and in Iceland.

At the same time as we develop an Arctic defense capability against Russia and China, a strategic dialogue is needed to reduce the risk of confrontation and mistakes. For this, it is required that Sweden pushes for purposeful talks to be enabled within the existing multilateral organizations that are available.

Parliamentarians from Canada, Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden met in cooperation with the indigenous peoples of the Arctic at a conference in Kiruna earlier this year. Now that the dynamics in the Arctic are changing in light of climate change and the current security situation, it is important that the Arctic parliamentarians gather to address the multifaceted challenges in the Arctic region.

We agreed on a resolution on issues of both current and future relevance for the Arctic and its people. It concerns climate, research, environment and employment, and continued commitment to inclusion, sustainability, security and well-being for the Arctic inhabitants, including indigenous peoples.

An important issue that we made a decision on was this matter of environment and waste; I am a bit fixated on waste. We urge the Arctic governments to adopt renewable energy solutions, develop zero emissions in rural communities in the Arctic and implement strict waste management policies for the transport of waste from Arctic communities and tourist facilities to promote circular economies and sustainable methods that minimize the ecological footprint.

We further urge the Arctic governments to strengthen joint efforts to minimize marine plastic pollution. We also urge non-Arctic states to intensify their efforts to minimize marine littering from wind and ocean currents, which have serious negative effects on ecosystems and wildlife in the Arctic region.

This is where the waste comes in. We in Sweden are good at ending plastic straws and other things. In many other countries, however, we are met with an abundance of plastic - the plastic fork is packaged in plastic, the plastic cup is packaged in plastic, and so on. Researchers have estimated that 94 percent of the plastic in the ocean lies on the seabed. This corresponds to an average of 70 kilos of plastic per square kilometer of seabed. The rest floats around on the ocean surface or washes up on beaches. The waste we see, which is still quite a lot, is therefore only the tip of the iceberg.

Svenska Turistföreningen, STF, in cooperation with Håll Sverige Rent has annually measured litter on hiking trails at Storulvån since 2018 and at Kebnekaise, Grövelsjön, Helags and Sylarna since 2020. The results from these measurements usually differ from how it looks in other environments, such as urban environments and bathing spots, where cigarette butts are the most common litter. In the measurements in the mountains, it is instead snus that is the most common litter. In 2023, snus accounted for 38 percent of the litter found, while plastic accounted for 27 percent.

At the Kiruna Conference, I was appointed by the other Arctic parliamentarians as a special rapporteur regarding specifically waste. We can simply get better at this, and it is something I will work a lot on moving forward. I hope that we can achieve a lot together, because we need to help each other in this matter.

It is also important that we work together at the EU level on the Arctic issue. We Moderates want to work towards granting the EU observer status in the Arctic Council and that the Arctic is included as part of the EU's neighborhood policy.

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Azra Muranovic (S)

Madam Speaker! Today we face great challenges and opportunities in the Arctic, a region of great strategic and environmental importance. The Arctic is heavily affected by climate change, which entails serious consequences for both nature and the people who live there, including the indigenous peoples who have long lived in harmony with this sensitive environment. We Social Democrats are firmly determined that Sweden shall play an active and leading role in ensuring that development in the Arctic occurs in a sustainable and peaceful manner.

One of the most urgent issues is climate change. The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, which leads to melting ice and rising sea levels. This threatens not only biodiversity but also the traditional ways of life for indigenous peoples. Therefore, it is crucial that Sweden continues to push for ambitious climate measures internationally. We must work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support research and innovation for sustainable solutions.

Furthermore, it is necessary that we take into account and respect the rights of indigenous peoples in the Arctic. These communities often have limited power over their lives and their land. By strengthening their influence and ensuring that their voices are heard, we can contribute to a just and sustainable development. This includes protecting their traditional areas from exploitation and environmental destruction.

I want to emphasize the importance of us pushing for the global goals for sustainable development to be reached in the Arctic as well. This means that we must ensure that the extraction of fossil fuels in the region is prohibited. We cannot allow short-term economic interests to jeopardize the future for coming generations.

It is crucial that Sweden continues to use its strong voice for climate action. Climate changes in the Arctic affect not only the environment but also security policy. We must work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development in the Arctic. By leading by example, Sweden can show the way for a sustainable and peaceful future in the region.

Madam Speaker! I also want to speak about security in the Arctic, a region whose strategic importance is growing in step with climate change but also with global tensions. We must all be aware of the security policy challenges that follow from a changed Arctic. As the ice melts, new shipping routes and opportunities for the extraction of natural resources open up, which has increased the geopolitical interest in the region, even by states that do not belong to the Arctic area.

As previously mentioned, the Arctic is the region on the entire globe where climate change is progressing fastest and the effects are most noticeable. At the same time, interest is increasing from actors such as Russia, China, and the USA, which creates entirely new security challenges.

Madam Speaker! We Social Democrats believe that Sweden must take a leading role to ensure that the Arctic remains a region of peace and cooperation. Our reservation emphasizes the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the Arctic, particularly through the Arctic Council, where Sweden must work to maintain dialogue and cooperation between the Arctic states. It is crucial that we stand up for international law and multilateralism as cornerstones in our security policy work in the region.

We view the increased military presence and the strategic investments in the Arctic with concern. To meet these challenges, we Social Democrats propose that Sweden, together with our Nordic neighbors, strengthen our defense cooperation and the capacity for crisis management in the region.

It is more important than ever today that the Nordic defense and security policy work is coordinated in an effective way. In the Nordic region, we have a special obligation to help one another. Sweden already has war planning with Finland and cooperation, information exchange, and exercise activities with the other Nordic countries.

It is important that the situational awareness is unified and that the measures have a broad anchoring in the respective parliaments of the countries. Sweden should therefore work to ensure that a Nordic defense and security policy commission with anchoring in all Nordic parliaments is appointed as soon as possible. The goal of the work shall be a joint report with guidelines on approaches and ambitions that the Nordic countries can stand behind. A joint Nordic defense commission with anchoring in all Nordic countries' governments and parliaments creates long-term strength and stability.

The main points in the work should be a common security policy analysis, a development of the total defense, civil and military resources, production of defense materiel and development in the Arctic, along the Norwegian-Swedish west coast, and in the Baltic Sea.

With a common picture of the security situation in our immediate vicinity, we can map out which competencies and resources we have in our countries to jointly meet the threats. It enables more effective planning and coordination of the defense resources.

In addition to this, we Social Democrats believe that NATO membership strengthens the possibility of cooperating on a large scale with all the Nordic countries. The entire area in Scandinavia, from the Arctic to the Baltic Sea, must be seen as an operational unit. Our NATO membership raises the threshold in relation to a crisis or conflict in our immediate vicinity, but it also places demands on us to continue strengthening our national defense capability and be a credible partner.

Madam Speaker! It is also our conviction that through strong Nordic cooperation, clear climate leadership, and an unwavering faith in diplomacy first and foremost, we can navigate the security policy challenges in the Arctic. Sweden must stand firm by its principles and work for a peaceful and sustainable development in this critically important region.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I move for approval of reservation 11 that the government should take the initiative to establish a Nordic defense commission.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Staffan Eklöf (SD)

Madam Speaker! We are debating the Nordic cooperation. It is a cooperation that proceeds very easily due to two factors. For the first, we are alike and have similar values, and for the second, the cooperation is voluntary.

There is much that the Nordic countries stand to gain from doing together. It can be about facilitating cross-border commuting between the countries, making joint investments in research and technological development, or agreeing on a common order or common standards, so that the Nordic region can function as a common market to a greater extent. Joint coordinated efforts for cross-border environmental problems, such as in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, can also yield a different, greater effect than if the states take different measures or work in different ways.

I, who sit in the committee for a sustainable Norden, must return to precisely common environmental measures.

It is however important to say that there is also much that the Nordic countries do not benefit from doing together. Some things provide no added value and others are even counterproductive, for example common climate goals. It is important to separate the wheat from the chaff in this context. That is what we politicians owe our citizens.

Now I want to raise a concrete issue where a collaboration would provide good Nordic benefit. It concerns the combating of alien invasive species, such as the raccoon dog and invasive plant species.

Invasive alien species are species that, with human help, have been moved from their original environment and in their new surroundings begin to spread rapidly and cause serious damage, among other things for the environment and the economy.

The control of invasive species is a new activity where new methods are being continuously developed in the work. The control of organisms that can move or spread quickly in other ways must be carried out systematically and everywhere to be effective.

There are, therefore, great gains for the Nordic countries in cooperating to exchange methods and to coordinate efforts. The cooperation that has existed has been temporary. A regularly recurring cooperation was needed.

Another decisive prerequisite is that eradication teams have access to all private land as needed. Eradication cannot be waived in an area, because a refuge would then be formed for the invasive organism from which it can then spread to surrounding areas.

Access to private land for control is provided in Sweden but not in all countries. This means that even though Sweden has more or less eradicated the raccoon dog, there is a risk that individuals will cross the borders, because it is more difficult to eradicate it in neighboring countries due to the fact that one cannot access control on all land.

Therefore, I move for approval of reservation 1. That reservation reads as follows: The Nordic Minister should take the initiative so that the control of invasive species is regularly addressed in the Nordic Council and expertise is gathered for these discussions. We consider that the issue of access to private land to combat invasive species should be addressed in this context.

Thus, it will be possible for all parties to support the approach and vote for our motion so that it becomes a reality.

Another type of issue where there is great benefit in finding common Nordic solutions are issues that are decided in the EU and where the Nordic countries' ministers can help each other to achieve a desired result.

Such a question concerns herring and cod in the Baltic Sea. The quotas are determined through negotiations in the EU Council. Herring and cod have decreased significantly along our coasts, and our coastal fishers get very small catches.

One of several reasons for this is that large trawlers take very large catches in the Baltic Sea, which are then used for feed production. This industrial fishing subjects the fish populations to an excessively harsh fishing pressure and leads to the fact that professional fishers along the coast cannot make a living from their fishing.

Sweden now has the best fisheries minister and rural affairs minister in a very long time. It is Peter Kullgren. Sweden and our fisheries minister tried everything they could to reduce the quotas negotiated in the EU. They succeeded in reducing the catch quotas and not least the bycatch, but not as much as they wanted, because they were quite alone.

The recommendation from the Committee for a Sustainable Norden has now been adopted in the Nordic Council's session on negotiating restrictions on industrial trawling in the Baltic Sea. Therefore, I also want to appeal here to the Nordic countries' ministers to heed the Nordic Council's will, so that our Swedish fisheries minister does not become as alone in the next round of negotiations on fishing quotas in the EU, but that we can obtain quotas that are simultaneously low enough to protect herring and sprat and high enough for the coastal fishermen to be able to continue with their livelihood.

It would not be to any harm if the Minister for Nordic Affairs reminded his colleagues of the Nordic Council's will. It would be of great Nordic benefit. These are two fairly easy points that could have a great positive effect for biodiversity and thereby strengthen the green sustainability dimension.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lars Püss (M)

Madam Speaker! Today we are debating Nordic issues in the Riksdag. As a member of the Swedish delegation to the Nordic Council, these are very important issues for me. The Nordic cooperation is almost unique in the world and something that we should be very proud of.

Just over a year ago, it was decided that we should conduct a review of what is called the Nordic Council's constitution, namely the Helsinki Treaty. It was drafted in 1962 by the five Nordic countries and has since been updated on seven occasions, most recently in 1995 in connection with Sweden and Finland becoming members of the EU.

The reasons why we wanted to conduct a review were several. Among them was that all five Nordic countries would soon be NATO members. That has now happened. But until they became so, defense and security policy issues have been very sparingly discussed due to our differing views on precisely security policy.

Another reason has been that very many of the areas that the Nordic Council has to work with according to the agreement have simply not kept up with the times. Environmental issues, which are addressed in the agreement, can be taken as an example. But here, neither climate nor biodiversity are mentioned at all, which is a self-evident priority today.

The working group has consisted of one member from each of the five countries and from the three autonomous regions. I was given the task of representing both Sweden and the conservative group in the Nordic Council. It is apparently perhaps an incompatible task. But the task has largely been about finding a consensus, and therefore it has been remarkably easy to combine the two assignments.

Madam Speaker! The areas we have delved into are defense and security policy, preparedness and civil protection, welfare and the Nordic welfare model, education, research, culture and use of one's own language, climate and nature, transport and infrastructure, young people in the Nordic countries, which includes the Nordic Council of Wards, border obstacles, the relationship to EU and EEA cooperation, and finally the parties to the Helsinki Accords.

In all of these ten areas, we have been in agreement, except in the last one which concerns the parties in the Helsinki Agreement, i.e., who can become a member of the Nordic Council. So let us begin with that point.

The three autonomous territories Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland have, with the Faroe Islands at the forefront, been pushing for them to become independent members of the Nordic Council. From the Swedish side, I have, with the support of the Swedish delegation, pushed the line that it is not a matter for the Nordic Council to decide.

It is primarily a domestic political issue for Denmark and Finland respectively to act upon. It is not the Nordic Council that is to decide on the member countries' domestic policy. Since the three autonomous areas are not independent states, they can also not be parties to the Helsinki Accords. They can, however, just as they are today, continue to participate in the Nordic Council's work through their respective representatives.

When it comes to the other nine points, where all members of the group were in general agreement on which formulations we should choose, I think there is every reason to reflect on them for a while.

What essentially united all those points was a far-reaching will to harmonize our regulatory frameworks and facilitate for our Nordic citizens to live and work in the Nordic region. It expresses more far-reaching ambitions than what can be found in the Helsinki Agreement.

In the current agreement, there is a paragraph that gives the council the opportunity to discuss practically any issues they want. In other words, it gives the Nordic Council a large measure of self-determination. Therefore, the question is whether the agreement needs to be revised at all.

For my part, I have come to the conclusion that it does not need to be. However, I definitely think that we should take part in all the proposals that the group has submitted to the Nordic Council's presidium in order to continue to strengthen Nordic cooperation and realize our vision of being the world's most sustainable and integrated region by 2030.

All the proposals that have been submitted aim to take us one step further towards that vision. This applies in particular to border obstacles, which is actually the area where we have the greatest work to do.

I also see that there is a solid will. Since both Sweden and Finland became members of Nato, the Nordic countries have, for the first time since the Kalmar Union, had a common view on defense and security policy. This is an enormous strength that gives us the opportunity not only to work with military defense but also with civil defense and to be able to better equip ourselves to handle future threats and crises.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would like to issue an appeal to the Swedish delegation that we shall continue to work with the proposals that the working group has put forward and broaden and develop our work in the Nordic Council so that we can collectively be better equipped for the future.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Victoria Tiblom (SD)

Madam Speaker! It is important that we safeguard our Nordic culture. We live in a time of change, where the winds of globalization bring with them new influences and challenges. In this time, it is of crucial importance that we do not forget our roots and that which defines us as Nordic people.

Our Nordic culture is not just a collection of traditions and historical heritage; it is a living organism that shapes our values, our identity, and our society. Nordic culture is characterized by values such as solidarity, equality, and respect for nature and for one another. It is these values that have shaped our societies into the inclusive and well-functioning places they are today.

But despite its richness and importance, our Nordic culture is not immune to threats. Globalization can sometimes bring about a homogenization of cultures, where local characteristics and unique traditions risk being lost in the great flow of global trends. We must therefore be aware of our cultural heritage and actively work to preserve and promote it.

One of the most important aspects of safeguarding our Nordic culture is to encourage and support art, literature, and music that is rooted in our region. By making space for our own artists and creators, we do not only express our unique identity, but we also create a platform for dialogue and understanding both within and beyond our borders.

Madam Speaker! We must also safeguard our language. Our Nordic languages are not just communication tools; they are also carriers of our history, our stories, and our cultural identity. By preserving and supporting the use of our languages, we ensure that our cultural heritage continues to live and develop for future generations.

It is therefore worrying with all the savings in the Nordic Council's culture budget. Funds are being saved and redistributed to the work of the green transition. Of course, the green transition is an important part of the Nordic Council's work, but it should not be at the expense of our Nordic culture. Our cultural institutions all around the Nordics are worried, and with good reason. We Sverigedemokrater want, together with our party group in the Nordic Council, Nordic Freedom, to see a redistribution of funds so that the culture budget is restored.

Let us stand up together for our Nordic culture! Let us be proud of our heritage and commit ourselves to preserving and developing it for future generations! By doing so, we ensure that our Nordic values and traditions remain alive and relevant far into the future.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Staffan Eklöf (SD)

Mr. Speaker! In my capacity as chair of the Swedish delegation to the Parliamentary Conference on the Baltic Sea, BSPC, I would like to say a few words in two minutes about BSPC's activities over the past year.

First and foremost: BSPC is the forum for the inter-parliamentary Baltic Sea cooperation. A conference is held every year that brings together parliamentarians from ten national parliaments, seven regional parliaments, the European Parliament, inter-parliamentary organizations, as well as observers. Russia has not been included since the country's attack on the neighboring country Ukraine.

The purpose of the cooperation is to promote parliamentary dialogue in the Baltic Sea region at both national and regional levels and to influence the development of the cooperation conducted by the governments through the Baltic Sea States Council. The goal is to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development in the region. The cooperation contributes to increased information exchange and network building between parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea region.

The work is taken up by cooperation both generally as well as in certain selected areas, which change over the years. Currently, BSPC has a working group that analyzes cooperation in the area of energy supply and interconnection for sustainability. This is something that is most important for the Baltic states. But it is important for us too, not least so that they can become independent of Russia.

I think the Swedish delegation is working well and has Sweden's best interests in mind. It also sets relevant demands regarding not cooperating with Russia. I am therefore proud to represent the Swedish delegation as chairperson.

(Applause)

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(Decisions were made under § 19.)

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