Important Facts For Prelims
Nordic-Baltic Cooperation
- 04 Mar 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
At Raisina Dialogue 2024, 8 Nordic-Baltic countries (NB8) participated together as representatives of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation.
What is Nordic-Baltic Cooperation?
- About: The Nordic-Baltic cooperation is an informal regional cooperation format established in 1992, bringing together 5 Nordic (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland) and 3 Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania).
- It was named the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) in 2000 on the initiative of Toomas Hendrik Ilves (former Estonian Foreign Minister).
- Sweden holds the chairmanship of the NB8 in 2024.
- Key Report: One of the main documents on NB8 cooperation is the NB8 Wise Men Report, also known as the Birkavs-Gade Report, which provides concrete guidelines for promoting cooperation between the eight countries.
- NB8 and India: Collaboration between Nordic-Baltic countries and India spans various fields including innovation, green transition, maritime affairs, health, intellectual property rights, technology, space and tourism.
- In November 2023, the 2nd CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) India Nordic-Baltic Business Conclave was held in New Delhi, aiming to foster collaboration between India and the NB8.
- Outreach of NB8: Since 2003, there have been regular meetings at the political directors' level between the NB8 countries and the United States, known as the e-PINE format.
- Additionally, in 2011, an agreement was reached to convene meetings between the prime ministers of the NB8 countries and the United Kingdom, evolving into what is now recognised as the Northern Future Forum.
- NB6: When the Baltic countries became members of the European Union in 2004, the NB6 format was created.
- This includes the European Union member states of the NB8, namely Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and provides a framework for informal meetings to discuss topical EU issues.
- Iceland and Norway are not members of the European Union.
- This includes the European Union member states of the NB8, namely Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and provides a framework for informal meetings to discuss topical EU issues.
