Editing Nordic Council (section)

== History ==
During World War II, Denmark and Norway were occupied by Germany; Finland was [[Winter War|under assault]] by the [[Soviet Union]]; while Sweden, though neutral, still felt the war's effects. Following the war, the [[Nordic countries]] pursued the idea of a [[Scandinavian defence union]] to ensure their mutual defence. However, Finland, due to its [[Paasikivi–Kekkonen doctrine|Paasikivi–Kekkonen policy of neutrality]] and [[Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|FCMA treaty]] with the USSR, could not participate.

It was proposed that the Nordic countries would unify their foreign policy and defence, remain neutral in the event of a conflict and not ally with [[NATO]], which some were planning at the time. The United States, keen on getting access to bases in [[Scandinavia]] and believing the Nordic countries incapable of defending themselves, stated it would not ensure military support for Scandinavia if they did not join NATO. As Denmark and Norway sought US aid for their post-war reconstruction, the project collapsed, with Denmark, Norway and Iceland joining NATO as founding members.<ref>[http://www.ena.lu/plan_scandinavian_defence_union-2-6834 The plan for a Scandinavian Defence Union] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601073514/https://www.cvce.eu/ |date=1 June 2019 }}, [[European Navigator]]. Étienne Deschamps. Translated by the CVCE.</ref> Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively, following the 2022 [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. 

Further Nordic co-operation, such as an economic customs union, also failed. This led [[Danish Prime Minister]] [[Hans Hedtoft]] to propose, on 13 August 1951, a consultative interparliamentary body. This proposal was agreed by Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden during a meeting in [[Copenhagen]] on 15–16 March 1952.<ref name="H1">[http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/the-nordic-council/the-history-of-the-nordic-council/before-1952 Before 1952] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330201905/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/the-nordic-council/the-history-of-the-nordic-council/before-1952 |date=30 March 2014 }}, Nordic Council</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/70-years-nordic-council-still-delivering-nordic-synergies|title=70 years of the Nordic Council|publisher=Nordic Council|language=English|date=11 March 2022|accessdate=28 December 2022|archive-date=28 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228213145/https://www.norden.org/en/news/70-years-nordic-council-still-delivering-nordic-synergies|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/information/history-nordic-council|title=The history of the Nordic Council|publisher=Nordic Council|language=English|accessdate=28 December 2022|archive-date=28 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228213149/https://www.norden.org/en/information/history-nordic-council|url-status=live}}</ref> The council's first session was held in the Danish Parliament on 13 February 1953 and it elected Hans Hedtoft as its president. When Finnish-Soviet relations thawed following the death of [[Joseph Stalin]], Finland joined the council in 1955, following a voting in the Parliament of Finland on 28 October that year, effective from 23 December the same year.<ref name="H2">[http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/the-nordic-council/the-history-of-the-nordic-council/1953-1971 1953–1971 Finland joins in and the first Nordic rights are formulated.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330201909/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/the-nordic-council/the-history-of-the-nordic-council/1953-1971 |date=30 March 2014 }}, Nordic Council</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://svjt.se/svjt/1956/601|title=Finlands lagstiftning 1955|publisher=Svensk juristtidning|author=Curt Olsson|language=Swedish|date=1956|accessdate=28 December 2022|archive-date=28 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228213151/https://svjt.se/svjt/1956/601|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 July 1954, the Nordic labour market was created and in 1958, building upon a 1952 passport-free travel area, the [[Nordic Passport Union]] was created. These two measures helped ensure Nordic citizens' free movement around the area. A Nordic Convention on Social Security was implemented in 1955. There were also plans for a [[single market]] but they were abandoned in 1959 shortly before Denmark, Norway, and Sweden joined the [[European Free Trade Area]] (EFTA). Finland became an associated member of EFTA in 1961 and Denmark and Norway applied to join the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC).<ref name="H2"/>

This move towards the EEC led to desire for a formal Nordic treaty. The [[Helsinki Treaty]] outlined the workings of the council and came into force on 24 March 1962. Further advancements on Nordic cooperation were made in the following years: a Nordic School of Public Health, a Nordic Cultural Fund, and Nordic House in [[Reykjavík]] were created. Danish Prime Minister [[Hilmar Baunsgaard]] proposed full economic cooperation ("[[Nordek]]") in 1968. Nordek was agreed in 1970, but Finland then backtracked, stating that its ties with the Soviet Union meant it could not form close economic ties with potential members of the EEC (Denmark and Norway).<ref name="H2"/> Nordek was then abandoned.

As a consequence, Denmark and Norway applied to join the EEC and the Nordic Council of Ministers was set up in 1971 to ensure continued Nordic cooperation.<ref name="HM1">[http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/the-nordic-council-of-ministers/history-of-the-nordic-council-of-ministers/the-period-up-to-1971 The period up to 1971] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120111240/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/the-nordic-council-of-ministers/history-of-the-nordic-council-of-ministers/the-period-up-to-1971 |date=20 November 2011 }}, Nordic Council of Ministers</ref> In 1970 representatives of the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Åland]] were allowed to take part in the Nordic Council as part of the Danish and Finnish delegations.<ref name="H2"/> Norway turned down EEC membership in 1972 while Denmark acted as a bridge builder between the EEC and the Nordics.<ref name="HM2">[http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/the-nordic-council-of-ministers/history-of-the-nordic-council-of-ministers/197220131989 1972–1989] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120111152/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/the-nordic-council-of-ministers/history-of-the-nordic-council-of-ministers/197220131989 |date=20 November 2011 }}, Nordic Council of Ministers</ref> Also in 1973, although it did not opt for full membership of the EEC, Finland negotiated a free trade treaty with the EEC that in practice removed customs duties from 1977 on, although there were transition periods up to 1985 for some products. Sweden did not apply due to its non-alliance policy, which was aimed at preserving neutrality. Greenland subsequently left the EEC and has since sought a more active role in [[Arctic cooperation and politics|circumpolar]] affairs.

In the 1970s, the Nordic Council founded the [[Nordic Industrial Fund]], Nordtest and the [[Nordic Investment Bank]]. The council's remit was also expanded to include environmental protection and, in order to clean up the pollution in the [[Baltic Sea]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]], a joint energy network was established. The Nordic Science Policy Council was set up in 1983<ref name="HM2"/> and, in 1984, representatives from Greenland were allowed to join the Danish delegation.<ref name="H2"/>

Following the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]] in 1991, the Nordic Council began to cooperate more with the [[Baltic states]] and new Baltic Sea organisations. Sweden and Finland joined the [[European Union]] (EU), the EEC's successor, in 1995. Norway had also applied, but once again voted against membership.<ref name="HM3">[http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/the-nordic-council-of-ministers/history-of-the-nordic-council-of-ministers/after-1989 After 1989] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120103903/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council-of-ministers/the-nordic-council-of-ministers/history-of-the-nordic-council-of-ministers/after-1989 |date=20 November 2011 }}, Nordic Council of Ministers</ref> However, Norway and Iceland did join the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA) which integrated them economically with the EU. The [[Nordic Passport Union]] was also subsumed into the EU's [[Schengen Area]] in 1996.

The Nordic Council became more outward-looking, to the [[Arctic]], Baltic, Europe, and Canada. The [[Øresund Bridge]] linking Sweden and Denmark led to a large amount of cross-border travel, which in turn led to further efforts to reduce barriers.<ref name="HM3"/> However, the initially envisioned tasks and functions of the Nordic Council have become partially dormant due to the significant overlap with the EU and EEA. In 2008 Iceland began [[Accession of Iceland to the European Union|EU membership talks]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2008/11/03/further-icelandic-support-for-eu-membership/#more-4118 |title=Further Icelandic support for EU membership &#124; IceNews – Daily News |publisher=Icenews.is |date=3 November 2008 |access-date=11 July 2009 |archive-date=14 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214105108/http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2008/11/03/further-icelandic-support-for-eu-membership/#more-4118 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but decided to annul these in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/12/iceland-drops-european-union-membership-bid |title=Iceland drops EU membership bid: 'interests better served outside' union |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 March 2015 |access-date=6 September 2016 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111211446/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/12/iceland-drops-european-union-membership-bid |url-status=live }}</ref> Unlike the [[Benelux]], there is no explicit provision in the [[Treaty on European Union]] that takes into account Nordic co-operation. However, the Treaties provide that international agreements concluded by the Member States before they become members of the Union remain valid, even if they are contrary to the provisions of Union law. However, each Member State must take all necessary measures to eliminate any discrepancies as quickly as possible. Nordic co-operation can therefore in practice only be designed to the extent that it complies with Union law.<ref>[http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:945898/FULLTEXT02.pdf Rapport över ändringar i de nordiska avtalen efter 1 januari 1995, i synnerhet ur ett EU-rättsligt perspektiv] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704100130/http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:945898/FULLTEXT02.pdf |date=4 July 2021 }} Norden</ref>