The Nordic Council approved a new societal security strategy in Helsinki on 28 October, calling for closer co-operation across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to protect essential supplies, infrastructure and democracy during crises. The region’s parliamentary co-operation body wants governments to share risk assessments and improve their ability to act together.
The strategy adopted at the Council’s annual session treats security as the capacity to keep society functioning, including access to medicines and energy and the protection of digital services. Its recommendations are directed at national governments. They do not constitute a new treaty or an agreement already concluded between them.
A societal security strategy shaped by recent crises
The Council’s announcement of the strategy points to the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, cyberattacks, disinformation and climate-related disasters as reasons for closer Nordic co-operation. The aim is to improve preparedness before an emergency, the response while it unfolds and recovery afterwards.
The Finnish Parliament’s account of the session says the strategy was adopted unanimously. The meeting took place under Finland and Åland’s presidency programme, which made comprehensive security a central theme.
Haga would gain clearer leadership
A central recommendation concerns Haga, the existing Nordic framework for co-operation on civil preparedness. The Council wants it to have clearer political leadership and responsibilities, drawing on the structure of NORDEFCO, the Nordic defence co-operation framework.
The proposals on leadership and organisation call on governments to pursue a joint Nordic agreement covering civil defence, preparedness and security of supply. Stronger structures would also support joint exercises and risk analysis. This is a request to develop future co-operation, with the agreement still an objective.
Essential supplies and services cross national borders
On security of supply, the Council recommends mapping strategic storage and strengthening energy supply across the region, including the North Atlantic and Arctic. Its supply recommendations also seek clear responsibilities for the planned Nordic food security partnership, so countries can better co-ordinate the production, transport and storage of critical goods.
A separate health section proposes a Nordic forum for pharmaceutical supplies, covering medicines, vaccines and equipment. The strategy also calls for closer co-operation between authorities, municipalities, businesses and civil society, alongside regular civilian crisis exercises.
Transport is part of that preparedness. The recommendations on societal resilience include maintaining sea and air connections during crises and improving co-ordination when borders close. They also stress that people with disabilities must be able to access information, support and essential services.
Democratic resilience includes schools and digital infrastructure
The Council’s digital recommendations ask governments to identify critical infrastructure together and set common requirements for procurement and suppliers, including cloud services and digital public systems. They also call for resources to counter disinformation and destabilisation campaigns.
Democratic resilience extends to education. The strategy proposes an annual preparedness week in Nordic schools, including critical thinking, source evaluation and media literacy. Turning these parliamentary recommendations into common services, exercises or agreements now depends on action by the Nordic governments.
