Editing Nordic Council (section)

==Observer, guests and other cooperation with neighbouring countries and regions==

In accordance with § 13 of the Rules of Procedure for the Nordic Council the [[Sámi Parliamentary Council]] is the only institution with observer status with the Nordic Council. In accordance with § 14, the Nordic Youth Council has the status of "guest" on a permanent basis, and the Presidium "may invite representatives of popularly elected bodies and other persons to a session and grant them speaking rights" as guests.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.norden.org/en/publication/rules-procedure-nordic-council-1|title=Rules of Procedure for the Nordic Council|doi=10.6027/NO2020-011|isbn=9789289364799|year=2020|s2cid=242821185|access-date=26 February 2020|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302171445/https://www.norden.org/en/publication/rules-procedure-nordic-council-1|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the council, "within the last couple of years, guests from other international and Nordic organisations have been able to take part in the debates at the Sessions. Visitors from the Baltic States and Northwest Russia are those who mostly take up this opportunity. Guests who have a connection to the theme under discussion are invited to the Theme Session."<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.norden.org/en/information/about-sessions-nordic-council| title= About the Sessions of the Nordic Council| website= norden.org| publisher= Nordic Co-operation| access-date= 26 February 2020| archive-date= 26 February 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200226145750/https://www.norden.org/en/information/about-sessions-nordic-council| url-status= live}}</ref>

The Nordic Council of Ministers has established four ''Offices outside the Nordic Region'': In [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]] and the German state of [[Schleswig-Holstein]].<ref name="Offices outside the Nordic Region"/> The offices form part of the secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministers; according to the Council of Ministers their primary mission is to promote cooperation between the Nordic countries and the Baltic states and to promote the Nordic countries in cooperation with their embassies within the Baltic states.<ref>{{cite book| title= Planer och budget 2016| page= 71| publisher= Nordic Council of Ministers| year= }}</ref>

The Nordic Council and the Council of Ministers also define Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia as "Adjacent Areas" and has formal cooperation with them under the Adjacent Areas policies framework.

The Nordic Council had historically been a strong supporter of Baltic independence from the Soviet Union. During the move towards independence in the Baltic States in 1991, Denmark and Iceland pressed for the Observer Status in the Nordic Council for the then-nonsovereign Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The move in 1991 was opposed by Norway and Finland. The move was heavily opposed by the [[Soviet Union]], accusing the Nordic Council of getting involved in its internal affairs.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sMUW5PR1FI8C&pg=PA113|title=Diplomacy in the Former Soviet Republics|first=James P.| last= Nichol| date=23 August 1995|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275951924|page=113}}</ref> In the same year, the Nordic Council refused to give observer status for the three, at the time nonsovereign, Baltic states.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMFdAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA157|title=Estonia: Independence and European Integration|first=David|last=Smith|date=16 December 2013| publisher= Routledge| isbn= 9781136452208|page=157}}</ref>

While the Nordic Council rejected the Baltic states' application for formal observer status, the council nevertheless has extensive cooperation on different levels with all neighbouring countries, including the Baltic states and Germany, especially the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Representatives of Schleswig-Holstein were present as informal guests during a session for the first time in 2016. The state has historical ties to Denmark and cross-border cooperation with Denmark and has a [[Danish minority of Southern Schleswig|Danish minority]] population.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.landtag.ltsh.de/aktuell/panorama_berichte/16_11_01_nordischer_rat.html |title= Schleswig-Holstein for the first time uses its observer status in the Nordic Council| website= landtag.ltsh.de| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20161117110624/http://www.landtag.ltsh.de/aktuell/panorama_berichte/16_11_01_nordischer_rat.html |archivedate=17 November 2016 | language= de| publisher= Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein| date= 1 November 2016| access-date= }}</ref> As parliamentary representatives from Schleswig-Holstein, a member of the [[South Schleswig Voter Federation]] and a member of the [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|Social Democrats]] with ties to the Danish minority were elected.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.landtag.ltsh.de/infothek/wahl18/drucks/4800/drucksache-18-4839.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.landtag.ltsh.de/infothek/wahl18/drucks/4800/drucksache-18-4839.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title= Election of observational members to the Nordic Council| website= landtag.ltsh.de| publisher= Landtag of Schleswig-Holstein| date= 3 November 2016| access-date= }}</ref>

The [[Sami people|Sámi]] political structures long desired formal representation in the Nordic Council's structures, and were eventually granted observer status through the Sámi Parliamentary Council. In addition, representatives of the Sámi people are de facto included in activities touching upon their interests. In addition, the Faroe Islands have expressed their wishes for full membership in the Nordic Council instead of the current associate membership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/faroe-islands-apply-membership-nordic-council-and-nordic-council-ministers|title=The Faroe Islands apply for membership in the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers|website=norden.org|date=18 October 2016|publisher=Nordic Co-operation|access-date=23 August 2019|archive-date=11 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111041909/https://www.norden.org/en/news/faroe-islands-apply-membership-nordic-council-and-nordic-council-ministers|url-status=live}}</ref>

Three of the members of the Nordic Council (Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, all [[Member state of the European Union|EU member states]]), the [[Baltic Assembly]], and the [[Benelux]] sought intensifying cooperation in the [[Digital Single Market]], as well as discussing social matters, the [[Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union]], the [[European migrant crisis]] and defense cooperation. Foreign relations in the wake of [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea]] and the [[Turkish constitutional referendum, 2017|2017 Turkish constitutional referendum]] were also on the agenda.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.err.ee/603573/ratas-meets-with-benelux-nordic-baltic-leaders-in-the-hague|title=Ratas meets with Benelux, Nordic, Baltic leaders in the Hague|date=22 June 2017|website=ERR.ee|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726132513/https://news.err.ee/603573/ratas-meets-with-benelux-nordic-baltic-leaders-in-the-hague|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]], the Finnish member of Parliament [[Mikko Kärnä]] announced he would launch an initiative at the Nordic council to grant Scotland observer status.<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.thenational.scot/news/19289277.scotland-deserves-observer-status-nordic-council-finnish-mp-tells-snp/| title= We'll try to get Scotland observer status on Nordic Council, Finnish MP tells SNP| website= thenational.scot| first= Xander| last= Richards| publisher= Newsquest Media Group Ltd| date= 8 May 2021| access-date= 27 September 2022| archive-date= 19 January 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230119150007/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19289277.scotland-deserves-observer-status-nordic-council-finnish-mp-tells-snp/| url-status= live}}</ref> Scotland's relationship with the Nordics has also been explored by Scottish journalist Anthony Heron, who would go on to interview [[Bertel Haarder]] on the topic.<ref name="Heron 2022 w984">{{cite web | last=Heron | first=Anthony | title=Former Nordic Council chief talks Scotland's global future | website=The National | date=1 June 2022 | url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/20179405.former-nordic-council-bertel-haarder-chef-talks-scotlands-global-future/ | access-date=16 August 2023 | archive-date=14 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814224637/https://www.thenational.scot/news/20179405.former-nordic-council-bertel-haarder-chef-talks-scotlands-global-future/ | url-status=live }}</ref>