“The Nordic countries could play a more important role”

“There is quite a bit of unfulfilled potential in the EU as of yet,” said Göran von Sydow, Director of Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS).

During a panel debate at ARENA Centre for European Studies’ 30^th anniversary conference, moderator Guri Rosén, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Oslo, asked about the potential for Nordic cooperation within Europe today. 

A united Norden with common goals

“There are many commonalities in terms of overall outlook, views and interests between the Nordic countries, but it doesn’t really materialise into collective action trying to influence the EU,” von Sydow continued.

Taking the example of Sweden, von Sydow explained that the country has a difficulty expressing what it wants within the Union. Von Sydow thinks Sweden does not manage to be proactive and specify its interests, and therefore becomes a reactive member state.

“There is perhaps a more long-term potential for a dynamic. With enlargement being back on the EU agenda, and with increasing heterogeneity within the Union, I think this could be the moment to talk more about flexibility and different models of how to organise,” said von Sydow.

Changed view on Norwegian EU membership

Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway, added to von Sydow’s points, highlighting the lessened strength of Germany and France’s role as leaders in the EU.

“The Nordic countries could maybe play a more important role than we thought before,” Bondevik said.

“But then we must be united in the EU.”

This position from Bondevik is a shift in how he has previously viewed Norway’s relationship to the EU. The politician voted “No” in the Norwegian EU referendums in 1972, and again in 1994, along with 52.2 per cent of the population.

Bondevik explained that a changing geopolitical situation is his main motivation to argue for Norwegian EU membership. He highlighted a more aggressive Russia, an ambitious China and Donald Trump elected president of the U.S, potentially withdrawing U.S. presence in Europe.

“Europe must be stronger. And Norway is small, but in addition to the other Nordic countries, we can be a rather strong grouping within EU,” Bondevik added.

Watch the recording of the panel debate, which also covered topics such as the history of EU support in each country, and the balance between EU and NATO:  

See also more videos from the conference: Europe’s development and challenges: Snapshots from ARENA’s research

Joint promotion of liberal values

Henri Vogt, Professor of Political Science at the University of Turku, noted some European countries have a greater degree of fragmentation in the political landscape, although there is fluctuation and political cleavages in the party landscape in the Nordic countries too.

“But overall, stability and unity prevail, in my view,” Vogt said.

“That makes me optimistic in terms of possible cooperation among the Nordic countries within the EU,” he continued.

Vogt highlighted that liberal institutional and international values should be further promoted in the EU.

“The Nordic countries joint within the EU could promote those values,” said Vogt.

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Practical benefits of Nordic cooperation 

While Finland, Sweden and Denmark are all members of the EU, Iceland, like Norway, is an European Economic Area (EEA) country. 

“Iceland is the smallest Nordic state, so maybe it could be said that in some ways Nordic cooperation benefits Iceland the most,” said Jóhanna Jónsdóttir, Deputy Ambassador of Iceland to the United Kingdom.

“We simply don’t have the same administrative capacity as our larger Nordic neighbours due to our size,” Jónsdóttir continued.

She explained that Nordic cooperation has already had many practical benefits for Iceland, being on the outside of the EU.

Jónsdóttir previously worked in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in Brussels, and recalls exchanging information between Nordic countries from within the different EU institutions.

“I think Nordic cooperation has had a lot of practical benefits. But it will be interesting to see how it develops in the future, and whether the Nordics start shaping the agenda more,” Jónsdóttir said.

Both in terms of EU policy and institutions, the Nordic council and in NATO, Nordic cooperation is useful and beneficial because the countries are like-minded, according to Jónsdóttir.

“When the five countries speak together, we speak with a much more authoritative and larger voice,” said Jónsdóttir.

Must include Greenland

“For me, the most important part of the Nordic situation is that Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Ålands are still not equal partners in the Nordic cooperation,” said Lisbeth Kirk, journalist and founder of EUobserver.

“I think that is a huge problem with Trump coming to power in the U.S.”

Kirk referred to the fact that Donald Trump suggested to buy Greenland during his last period as President of the United States.

“American interests in Greenland is growing, and Greenland is in a very difficult position,” Kirk continued.

“The Nordic cooperation not giving Greenland equal status, I think is something that should be moved up the agenda.”

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Celebrating 30 years of studying Europe

The panel debate was part of a larger conference to mark the 30th anniversary of ARENA Centre for European studies. The conference included speeches by Daniel Naurin, Centre Director at ARENA, Bjørn Stensaker, Vice-Rector for Education at the University of Oslo, and Hans-Jörg Trenz, Professor at Scuola Normale Superiore, and former ARENA researcher. Nine ARENA researchers presented their research in a “researcher relay”, giving a snapshot of the current research topics and projects at the centre.

Watch all videos of the presentations here: Europe’s development and challenges: Snapshots from ARENA’s research