Nordic Day on 23 March 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the Helsinki Treaty

The Helsinki Treaty defines the tasks and composition of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers as well as, overall, the main sectors and practices of Nordic cooperation. 
In 2022, the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers is held by Norway, which means that it chairs meetings in the configuration of intergovernmental cooperation while Finland, as President of the Nordic Council, chairs meetings of the parliamentary cooperation. 

While the Helsinki Treaty is celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Nordic Council, established in 1952, is celebrating impressive 70 years of cooperation. 

Several events will be organised on Nordic Day, in addition to which both the Parliament Building and its annexe, the Little Parliament, will fly the flags of the Nordic countries.   

This year, Nordic Day is celebrated in an exceptionally serious international situation because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland, together with the other Nordic countries, has strongly condemned Russia’s military attacks. The destabilisation of the European security system further emphasises the importance of unity between the Nordic countries.  

“Nordic Day serves both as an opportunity to raise awareness of Nordic cooperation and as a reminder to us all of it its importance for the wellbeing and security of our societies. The message of a unified and closely cooperating Nordic region, is now, following the armed attack by Russia on Ukraine, more timely and important than perhaps ever before,” says Minister for Nordic Cooperation Thomas Blomqvist. 

Nordic Day events 

During the day, Minister Blomqvist will attend three events on Nordic cooperation:

• A debate on the future of Nordic cooperation will begin in Parliament at 14.00. The Nordic Council celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2022 when Finland is holding Nordic Council Presidency. The anniversary provides excellent opportunities for exploring various options concerning future development of the cooperation from broader perspectives. 
  
  “Dialogue between the governments and parliamentarians is of paramount importance when we form our views on the direction of cooperation and future objectives,” Minister Blomqvist notes.
   
• The Nordic Council of Ministers will organise a launch event of the ‘State of Region 2022’ report in each of the five Nordic capitals. In Helsinki, the event will be held at the Nordic Culture Point (Norden i Fokus) in Kaisaniemi at 13.00–13.45. The discussion will focus on the pandemic, digitalisation and future ways of working and it is part of a larger series of events that will bring visibility to Nordic cooperation. Invitation and registration are available here.  
  
  Other events:
  
  Oslo: From crisis to opportunity - Nordic co-operation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: What now?
  
  Stockholm: Closed borders and cross-border labour – How do they co-exist?
  
  Copenhagen: COVID-19 and the Nordic labour market – What does a post-pandemic labour market look like?
  
  Reykjavik: Life and death in the Nordic Region – How has the pandemic affected health and life expectancy
   
• The 100th anniversary of autonomous Åland is celebrated from 9 June 2021 to 9 June 2022. The Prime Minister’s Office marks the anniversary by coordinating an Aland week for schoolchildren on 21–25 March 2022.  The City of Rovaniemi, together with the Regional Council of Lapland, Pohjola Norden and the teacher training school in Rovaniemi will organise a discussion on the Nordic countries, cooperation and autonomous regions as well as cross-border work, leisure time and culture on 23 March 2022 at 13.00–14.30. 9th graders from several schools have been invited to attend the event in Korundi House of Culture to learn about Nordic and Nordic cooperation. Minister Blomqvist will attend the event via a video greeting. Link to live webcast.