The Baltic and Nordic countries are united by common cultural, historical, political and economic links. The co-operation of Baltic and Nordic states is intensive at the most diverse levels. A regular political dialogue takes place within NB-8 and NB-6 formats. The intensification of co-operation among the eight countries attests to their common values and goals, and promotes the increased competitiveness of the Northern European region in the context of Europe and the world.

While continuing to develop co-operation with the Nordic states, it is important for Latvia to promote mutual contacts among people, to support co-operation among local governments and academic, professional and non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, as well as to develop tourism and to expand economic relations.

NB-6

The NB-6 (Nordic – Baltic Six) format comprises Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Since 1 May 2004 when the Baltic states became members of the EU, a format was set up for informal meetings before important EU events.

NB-8

The NB-8 (Nordic – Baltic Eight) format comprises Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. There has been ongoing active co-operation within this format since the beginning of the 1990s.  Every year there are regular meetings of Baltic and Nordic country prime ministers, foreign ministers, secretaries of state and political directors of Foreign Ministries. At the meetings of NB-8, regional issues and current international topics are reviewed.

In August 2007, at the meeting of Baltic and Nordic foreign ministers in Turku it was decided that the Baltic states would also in future be involved in the co-ordination of NB-8 events. In 2008, NB-8 co-operation is being co-ordinated by Estonia.

Nordic Council

The Nordic Council (NC) is an organization for parliamentary co-operation among the Nordic countries, which unites members of parliament, delegated by the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden) and three autonomous territories (Aland Islands, Faeroe Islands and Greenland). The NC comprises 87 deputies who are appointed by the parliaments of their respective states in accordance with the representation of political parties in parliament. Representatives of national governments also participate, with the right to make presentations and to participate in discussions, but without voting rights.

Each calendar year one Nordic country presides at the NC. The order of presiding states is as follows: Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Finland is the presiding state in 2008. It is customary to have the state holding chairmanship at the Nordic Council of Ministers preside at the NC the following year.

The NC performs its work in sessions, as well as at thematic conferences that are directly related to co-operation among the Nordic states. The current session takes place once a year, usually in November. The NC has a permanent secretariat located in Copenhagen.

The NC and the Baltic Assembly (BA) agreed on co-operation in 1992. Up till now, there have been five meetings of the two organizations. Since 2006, annual meetings of the BA and NC presidia have been held, with the participation of leaders of the joint committees, as well as thematic meetings and joint committee conferences. There is active co-operation among parliaments and their standing commissions. Meetings of the heads of foreign affairs commissions of Baltic and Nordic parliaments are held on a regular basis.

Nordic Council of Ministers

The Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM), being an institution which encompasses co-operation among Nordic Ministries of all sectors, plays a major role in the practical co-operation among the Baltic states and Nordic countries. The overall responsibility for the work of the NCM lies with the respective Prime Minister, but in practice the responsibility in each country is delegated to the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation.

The order of rotation of the NCM chairmanship is the same as in the NC. Sweden holds the chairmanship of the NCM for 2008 and has proposed Competitiveness, Climate change, Creativity and Co-ordination as its priorities for Nordic co-operation.

In 2008, Sweden, in association with the Baltic states, intends to implement the following initiatives: to adopt new NCM guidelines for co-operation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the period 2009-2013, and also to define further directions of activities of the NCM regional offices.

Parallel to the co-operation guidelines, starting from 2009, the NCM has offered new mobility programmes to the Baltic states, which support the exchange of public officials, experts and students in the fields such as education and research, culture, business and innovation, and public administration.

Co-operation of Latvia's sector ministries with the Nordic states is carried out in co-ordination with NCM activities. For example, Latvian officials participate in NCM working groups, meetings, seminars and conferences, and Latvian institutions develop joint projects with the NCM.

In 1991, a NCM Information Office was opened in Latvia. Due to its dynamic activities in the course of 17 years, large numbers of Latvian youth and students have acquired knowledge of Nordic languages. Members of the creative professions have received scholarships to help them fulfil their aspirations. Also, politicians, local government employees, entrepreneurs, and civil servants have benefited from opportunities for experience exchange. With support of the NCM, many schools and institutions of higher education in Latvia, as well as non-governmental organizations, have found co-operation partners in the Nordic countries.

Grant programmes currently available for Latvia:

• The Baltic Sleipnir – a scholarship programme for study visits, designed for active professional artists and art critics.
• NordProLink – a programme providing opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Baltic states and Northwest Russia to help establish new business contacts with similar companies in the Nordic countries.
•  Exchange programme for civil servants - a programme designed with the aim of promoting experience exchange and creating opportunities for comparison between public administration structures and the development of various sectors in the Nordic countries and the Baltic states.
• Nordic-Baltic NGO programme – a  programme promoting co-operation between Nordic and Baltic NGOs.
• Programme for support of NGOs in the Baltic Sea Region – In 2006, the NCM launched a new grant programme for the support of NGOs in the Baltic Sea Region.  It was envisaged for the enhancement of civil society and closer cross-border co-operation between NGOs. The programme covers the Baltic states, the Nordic countries, Poland, Northwest Russia and Kaliningrad, and Belarus.
• Closer Culture neighbours – a programme which offers young professional culture managers an opportunity to undergo internship in a cultural organisation in a Nordic country, through active participation in the process of organising cultural events.
• Nordplus Neighbour ­– a programme supporting co-operation network projects in the area of education and science between Nordic and Baltic countries, involving education and research establishments at all levels as well as non-governmental organisations active in the  field of education, including life-long learning and training.

The Nordic Council of Ministers: http://www.norden.org

The Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Riga: http://www.norden.lv