Political Priorities

Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning should contribute towards greater knowledge and solutions to important common and cross-sectoral societal challenges in the Nordic countries. To attain the goal of a Green, Competitive and Socially Sustainable Nordic Region, there is a need for solutions that build on regional strengths and local capacities for adaptation, and which bolster trust and co-operation between all parts of the Nordic Region. Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning therefore needs to promote a sustainable approach to regional development which bolsters financial, environmental and social development, increases the region’s resilience and adaptability and promotes Nordic integration and cohesion – both across borders within the Nordic Region and in the North Atlantic Region.

Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning should contribute towards making it yet an even more attractive prospect to live, study, work and run a business in the Nordic Region as a whole. The challenges facing Nordic regions, cities and rural areas have grown more complex and transnational in nature, and they require coordination across several administrative and functional boundaries, as well as a clear territorial perspective. For this reason, the coordinated planning of regional economic, social, climate-related and environmental matters concerning the physical structures that create the conditions for sustainable growth, greater competitiveness and an effective transition of the Nordic economy is therefore of considerable importance.

However, the new geopolitical situation places greater demands on security, supply and preparedness across all parts of the Nordic Region. Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning should contribute towards promoting the ability of the Nordic Region to address different disturbances and crises. The development, proximity and stable access to private and public services, both in times of peace and in times of crisis, are of considerable importance to resilient and adaptable regions, cities and rural areas.

Focus is placed on areas within which the Nordic countries can jointly – through collaboration, common efforts and the exchange of experience and learning – contribute towards a greener, more competitive and more socially sustainable Nordic Region.

A green Nordic Region

The green transition is crucial to meeting the environmental and climate goals of the Nordic countries, and the goal of a Green Nordic Region. This transition presents both opportunities and challenges, and the regional and local conditions for generating development and benefiting from the positive effects of the transition differ across the different parts of the Nordic Region. The urgency of the green transition and the need to ensure balanced use of land for different purposes – such as food and energy production, industry, housing and nature – places more stringent requirements on oversight, prioritising and the balancing of interests in the physical and land-use planning undertaken by the various Nordic countries. Moreover, it is also important that work relating to the green transition take account of the needs and rights of indigenous populations in the Nordic Region.

Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning can contribute towards ensuring that the Nordic countries’ climate and energy transition is undertaken in conformity with sustainable regional and local solutions, so that the green transition promotes local benefits and entails advantages for Nordic regions, cities and rural areas.

A competitive Nordic Region

Key to enabling a Competitive Nordic Region is the existence of innovative regions that are able to adapt and which have a capacity for development, in addition to a competitive business environment. Initiatives adapted on the basis of local and regional conditions and competitive advantages are also an important part of the solution. It is important that Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning support and stimulate business-promoting measures so that the Nordic countries can harness their development potential for smart and sustainable development.

In order to bring about a Competitive Nordic Region with a good social balance, it is important to ensure attractive housing, working and living conditions across all parts of the Nordic Region. This, in turn, requires good framework conditions for innovation, development and employment, especially in rural areas which are characterised by long distances, where it can be more challenging to offer attractive jobs and to attract and retain qualified workforces.

Nordic co-operation within development and planning can contribute towards promoting integration and cohesive solutions in all parts of the Nordic Region, in order to promote a Competitive Nordic Region.

A socially sustainable Nordic Region

Recent demographic and socio-economic developments – characterised by growing regional and intra-regional differences in population development and composition, in levels of income and education, and in regard to technical development – exert a central effect on development both regionally and locally within the Nordic Region. This applies both to the societal challenges and opportunities that such development presents. Examples include the tax base, the basis for skills supply in the labour market and access to public and private services. In rural areas characterised by long distances and sparse populations, this is often a considerable challenge, especially with regards to the handling of local or regional crisis situations. At the same time, other parts of the Nordic Region are facing challenges in the form of fast and large-scale population growth within small areas.

Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning can contribute towards the promotion of a Socially Sustainable Nordic Region via innovative Nordic solutions to these significant societal challenges, tailored to the different parts of the Nordic Region.

Nordic co-operation within regional development and planning

Nordic co-operation on regional development and planning between now and 2030 will therefore place focus on ensuring that:

The green transition shall generate development and opportunities for people and businesses in all parts of the Nordic Region, including both cities and rural areas
The regions in the Nordics must be both competitive and integrated
Both cities and rural areas in the Nordic Region shall be characterised by positive and secure living conditions.

The Nordic Council of Ministers for Sustainable Growth (Regional) has adopted a decision on the goals and sub-goals for the work to be undertaken in the 2025–2030 period. The political priorities are governing for all activity within the policy area of Nordic co-operation. This means that initiatives are to be developed on the basis of these goals, and that their activities, outcomes and effects must bring about the desired change.

Nordic co-operation which supports jointly prioritised initiatives and promotes learning and co-ordination between the Nordic governments, and other Nordic actors at various different levels, can help to bolster national, regional and local conditions for a green, competitive and socially sustainable Nordic Region.

Learning and greater knowledge – attained via research and analysis, follow-up, evaluation and the exchange of experience – can also bolster the ability of the Nordic countries and regions to address important societal challenges and better make use of the opportunities they present, thereby contributing towards the attainment of the goals for the regional development policy and planning of the Nordic countries.

A strong civil society, access to work, education, transport and access to both public and private services – in times of peace and times of crisis – are important components in ensuring that regions, cities and rural areas can remain secure and stable across the entire Nordic Region.