The seminar was opened by Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, who emphasised in his remarks that European security and stability depend on joint action and values-based cooperation. “Freedom is never self-evident – we must work for it every day. Cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries is an important part of our resilience and security,” Tsahkna said, also highlighting the need for unwavering support for Ukraine and for further steps to prevent the emergence of so-called grey zones in Europe.
In her opening address, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Karen Ellemann highlighted the historical significance of cooperation, recalling the events of 1991, when the Nordic countries were among the first to support the restoration of independence of the Baltic States. According to Ellemann, the solidarity shown at that time has developed into a strong and mutually beneficial partnership. “Trust is the gold of our region. Preserving and strengthening it is more important today than ever,” Ellemann stressed, adding that the region’s strength lies in cooperation, democracy and shared values.
Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia Maria Gratschew gave an overview of the development of cooperation since 1991. She noted that in its early years, the office focused on supporting the building of the Estonian state – from strengthening democratic institutions to developing civil society and the media. “Today, Estonia itself is a model in many areas, particularly in digitalisation, education and innovation. Our cooperation has evolved into a partnership where we learn from one another,” Gratschew said.
The seminar programme also included a panel discussion on the future directions of Nordic–Baltic cooperation. Participants included Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Karen Ellemann, Estonia’s Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas, Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security Kristi Raik, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov, former Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, and Ville Sirviö, CEO of the Nordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions (NIIS). The panel was moderated by Tõnis Nirk, Ambassador-at-Large for Baltic Sea Cooperation.
The discussions highlighted that cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries today spans a wide range of areas, from security and energy to education, digitalisation and innovation. It was jointly noted that the importance of this cooperation will only continue to grow in the changing geopolitical environment.
Additional information:
Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia – Mari Laikre, Communications Adviser, [email protected], tel. +372 50 31 273
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Reti Grete Tauts, Media Adviser, [email protected], tel. +372 53 09 5313
Photo: Kristi Sits
