Photo Niels Bohr Instituttet. Visit Faroe Islands. Kim Wyon/Visit Denmark
A competitive Nordic Region
The Nordic Region’s economic resilience and competitiveness are crucial to prosperity and the ability to afford the increasing demand for welfare. In general, Nordic companies cope well with global competition, but they need to keep innovating to maintain a prominent role in competitive markets. A competitive Nordic Region calls for a broad approach. Our countries ought to work even more closely together on favourable framework conditions for businesses to promote exports and productivity, and continue the digital transition throughout the Nordic and Baltic countries in order to maintain our position as Europe’s digital spearhead.
Figure 3 shows the percentage of people aged 20–64 in employment in the Nordic countries and the EU.
Source Nordregio and Nordic Statistics Database (WORK02)
The Presidency will promote the competitiveness of Nordic companies through closer cross-border co-operation and greater innovation. It will also continue the important work on the Nordic and Baltic digital transition and integration to ensure that citizens and businesses encounter fewer digital barriers to mobility in the region.
The Presidency will focus on robust Nordic economies, which are a prerequisite for the financial room for manoeuvre needed to make investments in key priorities and solutions, including the development of tomorrow’s technologies, robust strategic value chains and solutions that mitigate climate change and promote biodiversity – priorities that will secure the Nordic Region’s place as the most sustainable region in the world. Robust economies are also a prerequisite for maintaining the quality of and support for the Nordic welfare model and a socially sustainable Nordic Region, including a modern healthcare system, an inclusive education system and more coherent public services across the Nordic Region for the benefit of people and businesses alike.
Robust and competitive Nordic economies in the EU and the world
It takes a robust economy to navigate changing circumstances while safeguarding shared Nordic interests. Robust economies are a prerequisite for meeting the urgent need for higher defence spending. The Presidency will focus on robust and competitive Nordic economies with sound and sustainable public finances. This work will include focusing on economic reforms of the labour market and framework conditions for companies, including reducing administrative burdens to support a productive business sector that is competitive in a global context.
The Presidency will support enhanced competitiveness in the Nordic countries with a focus on challenges faced by all of our countries and possible solutions that will boost growth potential.
The Presidency will map the lessons learnt and experiences gained from COVID-19 and the energy crisis. Our aim is to learn from periods of uncertainty in the past and react more strongly in the event of any future economic shocks.
Nordic Competitiveness Report
Mario Draghi’s report on the state of and perspectives for EU competitiveness highlighted two of the fundamental challenges facing the Union: productivity and competitiveness. The Nordic Region is in a strong position and has the right preconditions to lead the way towards a stronger Europe while focusing on a green, digital and socially sustainable home region. The Presidency and the Nordic Council of Ministers will issue a tender for a report on Nordic competitiveness. The report will add to our knowledge base about Nordic competitiveness, including positions of strength and development opportunities that will contribute to Vision 2030 of being the world’s most competitive and green region.
The Presidency and the Nordic Council of Ministers will hold the annual vision conference focusing on Nordic competitiveness in autumn 2026.
Automatic sustainability reporting in the Nordic Region
Nordic companies need efficient ways of exchanging data, including sustainability data, with each other. This will promote business sustainability and the green transition, further integrate the Nordic market and reduce administrative burdens for companies, which will, in turn, accelerate competitiveness.
The Presidency will promote co-operation on automatic sustainability reporting in the Nordic Region.
Using and developing artificial intelligence to boost Nordic competitiveness
The Presidency wants to focus on the use of artificial intelligence to promote Nordic and Baltic competitiveness and efficiency in the public sector. Specifically, we will create smart and user-friendly digital solutions and reduce the burdens on Nordic and Baltic businesses.
The Presidency will follow up on the recommendations for this from the Nordic Ethical AI Expert Group, among others.
Tech sovereignty in the Nordic and Baltic countries
The current geopolitical situation has highlighted the need for the Nordic Region and the rest of Europe to build their own capacity and reduce strategic dependence on a few global technology suppliers. It is not a question of isolating ourselves from the global market, but of providing real alternatives and creating a more balanced market in which regional solutions are better able to compete. The Presidency will discuss the strategic options and specific actions the region can take along with the EU.
Closer Nordic-Baltic co-operation on the EU Digital Identity Wallet and the European Business Wallet
In recent years, the Nordic and Baltic countries, under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-DIGITAL), have worked closely and successfully together on the implementation of EU legislation on digital identities. However, there is more to be done. The European Commission’s proposal for the European Business Wallet is intended to make cross-border communication between businesses and between public authorities and companies simpler and easier. For the Nordic and Baltic countries, the European Business Wallet will also facilitate easier co-operation across national borders, simplify interactions with official agencies and ultimately reduce the administrative burden on businesses.
The Presidency will take stock of the work done so far on digital identities and discuss the possibility of working even more closely together on the European Business Wallet.
An integrated education and research region
A competent and well-educated population is a precondition for sustainable economic growth and strengthens competitiveness in a changing world that is placing great demands on people’s ability to adapt.
The competencies needed for the digital and green transition will be a topical theme throughout the Nordic Region. Education and training must reflect the skills needs of society and working life. The education sector must be more integrated. The Nordic Region must also strive to create meaningful communities and improve the well-being of children, pupils and students at all levels of education and training
An integrated research region
Research and innovation are crucial for solving the big social challenges we all face, as well as for national and Nordic security. The Presidency considers collaboration on green research and critical technologies, responsible internationalisation and research security to be important priorities.
The Presidency will promote a strategic Nordic initiative in quantum technology. It will also focus on the existing guidelines for research safety and how they are implemented now and in the future. The key will be to work together and facilitate access to knowledge exchange programmes, joint research projects, research infrastructure, capacity and training. It is a matter of how best to promote Nordic research collaborations and how we position ourselves as a research region in a world characterised by geopolitical movement and fierce global competition on new technology. The Presidency will also focus on the links between research, innovation and competitiveness.
