Response to interpellation 2024/25:166 on the Norden Association

Statsrådet Jessica Rosencrantz (M)

Madam Speaker! Eva Lindh has asked me how I assess the consequences of the Nordic Council's decision for the future of the Nordic Union and whether I intend to take any actions in view of the Nordic Union's current situation.

I completely agree with Eva Lindh that active civil society organizations play an important role both nationally and Nordic-wide. The association Norden and its sister organizations in the other Nordic countries are central contact points for international cooperation, and the relationship between these and the Nordic Council is important.

As also emphasized in response to a previous parliamentary question (2024/25:1037) regarding the future of the Nordic Association, the Nordic cooperation ministers attach great importance to civil society's contribution to Nordic integration. This is precisely the reason why the Nordic Council, in the budget for 2025 and the indicative frameworks for 2026-2027, has chosen to develop and strengthen the so-called Demos program, through which civil society organizations can apply for support for their activities.

The program's economic framework is significantly expanded, and it is also possible for well-established organizations to apply for both operational support for a three-year period and project support. This provides good opportunities for Föreningen Norden to apply for funds, which can be used for operations and administration. The possibility to apply for operational support for a three-year period also creates long-term perspective.

The hope is that the new model for support to civil society will both be able to strengthen the good Nordic work already ongoing in the associations Norden and other organizations and lead to the development of new forms of cooperation and forums that engage the Nordic population to an even greater extent across our entire region.

Regarding the situation for Föreningen Norden in Sweden, it can be stated that the organization, in addition to expanded opportunities to obtain funds from the Nordic Council through the Demos program, receives an annual operating grant of 8 million kronor from the government.

Info Norden in Sweden has been managed by the pan-Nordic institution Nordregio for several years. The changes now proposed in other countries should be seen as part of a larger process to strengthen and streamline the high-priority joint work to strengthen cross-border work and promote Nordic integration.

I am convinced that Föreningen Norden and its sister organizations around the Nordic region will continue to have good conditions to strengthen cooperation in the Nordic region in various ways and contribute to creating and maintaining the glue that binds the Nordic countries together across borders, cultures, and generations.

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

Eva Lindh (S)

Madam Speaker! When I began to engage in Nordic issues, I learned that Föreningen Norden is a cornerstone for Nordic solidarity and Nordic cooperation. I also think that it has proven to be so. There is a strong force in Föreningen Norden to continue driving the Nordic issues, and there is still a great commitment, not everywhere but in some places in Sweden. It is also the case that one connects the commitment that exists in the different countries, which is very important.

The association Norden is, as mentioned, a non-profit organization that works to strengthen cooperation. It should also be mentioned that it is a party-politically and religiously neutral association or organization.

As said, civil organizations are incredibly important. They complement the political work very well.

We have the Nordic Council. Some who are listening might not understand the difference, but the Nordic Council is, therefore, for those who are parliamentarians or sit in the different countries' parliaments. Then there is the Nordic Council of Ministers, which the Council of State is a part of. Then we have the third cornerstone, which is the Nordic Association and the great commitment that exists.

The reason I have submitted this interpellation is something that has raised many questions across the country - had it not been for something specific, we might not be standing here in the chamber and talking about Föreningen Norden - namely the decision that was nevertheless made. Let me say that it is not about the government's support for Föreningen Norden, for that is good and well. There are no differences in what we think there. But that is not what this is about.

It is about the decision that the Nordic Council of Ministers made. It can be seen in the budget—a rather difficult-to-read budget, if I may say so. It is divided into very large chunks, and it is difficult to decipher it properly. In the budget that the Nordic Council of Ministers has prepared, there is a bit more money in a pot for the rest that one can apply for. But what is the question here is precisely the long-term perspective for Föreningen Norden. The consequences of the decision that the Nordic Council of Ministers has made are precisely that one must apply for money.

The Minister emphasizes that it concerns three-year periods, which provides a certain long-term perspective. But it is still less long-term than what has been the case previously. There is a great deal of concern. Long-term perspective is good and well, but if one receives less money, it is also a problem if one has to wait until the coming years.

So there is a considerable amount of concern. What is it based on? It is primarily about the challenge of not knowing and of not having the long-term perspective that one has had previously. One has moved from having a longer long-term perspective to needing to seek funding for projects. Everyone who has sought project funding knows that it entails a lot for the associations that do so. In this case, it becomes a clear break in that one must seek project funding and cannot have the long-term perspective one has had previously.

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

Statsrådet Jessica Rosencrantz (M)

Madam Speaker! First and foremost, I really want to agree with what Member Eva Lindh describes, namely that the work that Föreningen Norden does and has done since 1919 is incredibly important. I and my Nordic colleagues - I believe I can speak for us all - attach great importance to the cooperation with civil society, including the cooperation with Föreningen Norden.

A strong civil society is truly a cornerstone of Nordic democracy and plays a decisive role also in the work of how we shall reach our common vision for 2030 of making the Nordic region the world's most sustainable and integrated region.

The Government has and has for a long time had a good cooperation with Föreningen Norden in Sweden. It is a cooperation that I safeguard and value. I will also shortly meet the association to discuss their activities and how we can jointly strengthen the Nordic cooperation moving forward.

As I said initially - I understand that this is not what is being discussed now - also gives the government an annual operating grant of 8 million kronor to Föreningen Norden, which I believe is an important and good contribution to their work.

But since civil society is so important, we have now also in the Nordic cooperation chosen to strengthen and develop the Demos program. The program focuses on issues concerning education, knowledge sharing, and language understanding. The first round of applications for specifically operational support has just concluded. The call is a novelty in the support for civil society in that the funds concretely go to operational support and that it is three-year. I mean that it secures the funding for the organizations for a few years forward.

Previously, the cabinet has only provided support for concrete projects as a starting point. I still want to emphasize that the changes we are making are being made to create better conditions and long-term perspective.

Nordisk kulturkontakt, which administers the Demos program, emphasizes that civil society organizations from all Nordic countries and autonomous territories were represented among the applications and that both long-established and new organizations with a Nordic focus were granted support. The recipients represent the Nordic civil society broadly, both geographically and thematically.

The results also show that the national Nordenföreningar and Föreningarna Nordens Förbund stand as recipients of support, so does Föreningen Norden in Sweden. The national Nordenföreningarna have not previously received operational support from the Nordic Council, but only a smaller sum earmarked for information initiatives that has been channeled via Föreningarna Nordens Förbund. It is therefore a clear step towards a reinforced, predictable, and more long-term funding.

This was, therefore, an initial application review regarding support from Demos. But the program consists of several parts, and it will continue to be possible to apply for project support annually, 2025-2027.

I and my colleagues see this new model for support to civil society as a way forward to strengthen cooperation in the Nordic region. The program will, of course, need to be evaluated, as is customary. But I am nevertheless convinced that we have embarked on a good path forward to increase the possibility of binding the Nordic countries together across borders, cultures, and generations.

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

Eva Lindh (S)

Madam Speaker! I hear that the Minister seems convinced that this is a better way. I truly hope that the Minister convinces me and that it will actually become better.

But that means a concern when there is less long-term perspective. I do not think it is good for such an important organization in the Nordic cooperation.

I want to raise a few more things. I used the word frustration when we talked about Nordic cooperation earlier. It recurs now. The frustration that one feels is about the lack of information and about not having been involved in the decisions that have been taken. I believe this is very important, not only for the cooperation in the Nordics but also when it comes to the contacts with our organizations. There has also not been a clear timeline forward regarding how one should act. I believe it is also very crucial when it comes to the insecurity that one feels.

I naturally see nothing negative in that support is given to other civil organizations under the umbrella, as the Nordic Council has decided. There are other projects that are certainly very important. But Föreningen Norden is not quite like other civil organizations, and in some way, it is still important that there is no competition between the different organizations. It has to do with long-term perspective.

It is one thing that may seem confusing for those who are not familiar with this. It concerns Info Norden and what has happened. It is clear that the difference will be greater in the other countries, because the Swedish organization has looked a bit different. But when we make decisions at the Nordic level, we must, even if the consequences do not become as decisive in Sweden, be loyal regarding how it affects the other countries.

I think it is important to take into account the even greater concern that exists outside of Sweden, that is to say in the other Nordic countries, for how this will affect. I think that is important.

In this situation, until the turn of the year, Sweden is still the chair. Therefore, this matter of getting an answer becomes even clearer. Even though one always, as I understand it, makes decisions together in the Nordic Council, the chairmanship is an important part. When this happens during the time that Sweden has the chairmanship in the Nordic Council, Sweden perhaps becomes a little more responsible for the answer. That is how the organization works.

Since many are wondering, I would like to ask the Minister: How was the decision made? On what grounds was it made? Was the decision made jointly? Why was it so unclear, and why could the thoughts not be communicated earlier, so that it was possible to prepare?

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

Statsrådet Jessica Rosencrantz (M)

Madam Speaker! Let me begin by saying that information and dialogue are always important. It is probably also something that can always be improved. I share this. I also think it was good during the Nordic Council's session week recently that, when we had the question period, I, among other things, received questions about exactly this and could describe to the member's colleagues in the Nordic Council the background to the whole thing and how we have reasoned.

Let me therefore take the opportunity to highlight what we are doing in the Nordic cooperation and our Swedish priority during this chairmanship year, which concerns the work on border obstacles. It is quite closely linked to the changes that are now being made.

We are halfway in time towards our shared vision that we shall become the world's most integrated and sustainable region by 2030. It is quite obvious, as many also pointed out in Reykjavík when we met, that we must increase the pace if we are to reach that vision, for there are not many years left. Therefore, during the Swedish presidency, we have had a particular focus on an integrated Norden without border barriers.

We have discussed concrete hurdles, concerning tax issues and digital mobility, but also how we can take a greater political ownership of the more extensive complexes of issues that we face. It is clear that exactly that has been lacking before.

During the year, we have succeeded in negotiating a new Öresund agreement with Denmark. It has long been requested, not least from the business community in the region. Now that it is in place, it will be easier to hire and work across the border.

During our joint government meeting with Finland, we decided to look at how we can improve the exchange of population registration data. It is an issue that has long lain dormant among many other border obstacles, but which we are now addressing.

Also in the joint prime ministerial declaration, which was adopted in Reykjavík, the work on removing border barriers is highlighted, and specifically in the digital area. It must be easier to identify oneself and to access digital services across borders. This is something we will now continue to work on.

But the path forward is not a straight line. There are still many challenges that hinder the mobility of Nordic citizens and the operations of companies across borders. It is crucial that we resolve these obstacles if we are to have a more integrated and coherent region. Therefore, the cooperation ministers have worked throughout the year for a higher level of ambition regarding mobility and free movement within our new cooperation program. This week, we adopted a new program for free movement. In that, the political anchoring is strengthened. The cooperation ministers receive a clearer role. A program secretariat is established to strengthen the coordination between different actors, and more resources are added. The Border Obstacles Council also receives a new mandate and a new format. The program shall make it easier to live, work, study, and run businesses across borders in the Nordic region.

It is in light of this that the changes regarding Info Norden should be seen. Info Norden has a very important role in the Nordic Council's work on mobility and border obstacles. They are in daily contact with residents and companies. As part of the new program for free movement, we want the cooperation ministers to link Info Norden more closely to the Nordic cooperation and the secretariat. By moving the administrative mandate from the Norden associations to pan-Nordic institutions and providing more resources, we create more synergies, and we streamline both the information and border obstacle work.

What I mean is that these are some examples of how we are now taking greater responsibility from politics in the work of removing border barriers. It is together with the important work, again, that is being done within civil society that we support important steps towards our common vision. It is in light of this that the changes the member asks about should also be seen.

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

Eva Lindh (S)

Madam Speaker! We perhaps thought that we had much better Nordic cooperation than we actually did. That was truly tested during the pandemic. There we really have a lot to work on.

The barriers are crucial. I believe it is important to focus on many different barriers that are problematic. This applies in particular to welfare issues. Now, I might be a bit biased, because this is what I am passionate about. But I believe there is a lot when it comes to ambulance and medical transports, e-prescriptions, and a lot of other things that need to be solved for it to truly become better in people's everyday lives. It is also about improving welfare when we can cooperate together.

I hear what the Minister answers, but I do not quite understand the grounds for the motion and in what way this would become better. Had the idea behind this been explained and presented in a better way, perhaps one would have gained an increased understanding. I still believe that this will be an obstacle on the way.

It is an appeal that when the Nordic Council of Ministers makes decisions on changes moving forward, it should be done in a much more transparent and clear way together between the Nordic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the civil organizations that are very active. Then I believe we will move forward better.

I thank you very much for the answers, even though I am not quite convinced. I nevertheless perceive that the Minister is truly trying to provide answers regarding these changes, and I hope that it becomes a bit better than what I and others feel concerned about.

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

Statsrådet Jessica Rosencrantz (M)

Madam Speaker! I completely agree that the pandemic in many ways exposed the boundaries that we had at least half-thought we did not need to observe. I say "we", but it is not least about people who live in the border regions, where the border for the most part has been experienced as an artificial barrier.

Sometimes it does make itself felt and places obstacles in the way of people and companies, and it is precisely for that reason we want to increase the pace of the work, otherwise the vision of the most sustainable and integrated region will remain just words. We must increase the pace and do something different and strengthen our work to get there.

I want to go back to where I started: Civil society is incredibly important in this work. I share the view that Föreningen Norden and its sister organizations have had and continue to have a very important role in strengthening cooperation in various ways. It is also clear, I mean, in the decisions that have been made by the Council of Ministers.

Through an enhanced program in support of civil society, for that is what this is, which enables both operational support over a three-year period and project support for individual initiatives and projects, good conditions are created to maintain the unique Nordic cooperation across borders, cultures, and generations.

My assessment is that we have no reason to worry that the Nordic Council's decision would negatively affect the future of the Nordic Council. But I also, of course, look forward to continuing the dialogue with them, and I will meet them in the near future. I look forward to cooperating also with the members and everyone else involved in the Swedish Parliament to strengthen the Nordic work.

The interpellations debate was hereby concluded.

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