Experts call for closer Nordic cooperation at Arctic Frontiers Conference

At a panel discussion titled ‘Nordic Cross Border Cooperation in the New Geopolitical Context’ during the Arctic Frontiers Abroad conference in Oulu, Finland, which took place from September 3 to 4, experts urged Nordic countries to deepen their cooperation on security, economic, and industrial policies. The discussion highlighted the strength of the Nordic model, emphasizing the need to merge national strategies with robust local and regional collaboration.

Maria Varteressian, the State Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, emphasized the importance of balancing national and international policies, noting that no country can stand alone in today’s world.

“All countries are small if we’re standing alone,” she said. “So in order to have something to say, especially regarding the way the world looks today, we need friends, allies and we need to cooperate.”

Nordic collaboration has been a longstanding feature of the region’s policy framework, but it requires consistent attention to local and regional levels of governance. According to Harri Martikainen, Director General of the Government Strategy Department at the Prime Minister’s Office of Finland, there are multiple layers that must work together for effective policy-making.

“There’s a regional level, national level, and an international level. And all those three levels must have good cooperation and collaboration,” he noted, adding that successful outcomes require each level to understand the aims and goals of the others.

The conversation also touched on the need for stronger backing from national governments to support local and regional development. Varteressian underlined the value of local knowledge in implementing policies.

“Those living their lives in the local context, they know where to apply those tools,” she said, stressing that national-level backing is essential to empower these efforts.

Despite progress, border challenges remain a significant barrier to deeper Nordic cooperation. Varteressian acknowledged these hurdles and spoke about the need for streamlined cross-border collaboration, especially in industries where businesses operate across multiple Nordic countries.

“We have too many border challenges,” she said. “But this is very much at the top of the attention of our government right now.”

The importance of a holistic approach to policy-making in the region was a key theme throughout the discussion. Martikainen urged the need to integrate various sectors into a comprehensive Northern policy, advocating for a broader strategy that considers both economic and societal needs.

“We cannot separate this kind of well-being policy from industrial, business and security policy. They are very tightly connected together,” he said.

According to the panel, there is optimism for stronger cooperation between the Nordic countries.

“The greatest potential is to further strengthen the national to local level and to have the national level backing the local and regional level even more,” Varteressian concluded, reinforcing the idea that Nordic collaboration will thrive through a combination of national strategy and local expertise.

The consensus was clear: as the region faces increasing challenges, particularly in security and industry, closer cooperation between Nordic countries and greater involvement from local and regional actors will be key to future success.