Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) is a regional co-operation format that includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Under NB8, regular meetings are held of the Baltic and Nordic countries' Prime Ministers, Speakers of Parliaments, Foreign Ministers, branch ministers, Secretaries of State and political directors of Foreign Ministries, as well as expert consultations where regional issues and current international topics are reviewed.[2]
Historically, the countries of the region have been interlinked and interacted for centuries, with mutual trade being the decisive factor facilitating this interaction. The most profound bond, however was created during the 1990s.
The Nordic Council first contacted Baltic parliamentarians in around 1989. Official co-operation began in November 1991, when the Nordic Council attended the inaugural meeting of the Baltic Assembly in Tallinn. A formal co-operation agreement between the Nordic Council and the Baltic Assembly was signed in 1992.[4]
The Nordic countries were amongst the strongest supporters of the Baltic countries' independence and later they were the first to open their borders, introducing visa-free regimes with the Baltic countries.[5]
When Baltic countries regained their independence and during their integration into the European and transatlantic structures, they were strongly supported by their Nordic neighbors. The Nordic-Baltic co-operation took place in various levels: networking and cooperation were established among politicians, civil servants and civil societies. The Nordic countries actively assisted the Baltic countries in their preparations for integration into the European Union and NATO.[5]
Named as 5+3 in the beginning of cooperation (five Nordic countries plus three Baltic States), the format changed its name and scope of cooperation. During the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and Nordic Countries on 30 August 2000 in Middelfart (Denmark), the Ministers decided that the meetings of the Ministers of the Baltic States and Nordic Countries will be called NB8.[6]
Nordic–Baltic countries today
The Nordic–Baltic community is one of the three main communities in Northern Europe: these are Nordic, Baltic and Baltic Sea Region.[7]
The Nordic–Baltic region has some 33 million inhabitants, and a combined GDP of close to $2.0 trillion,[8] which makes it the tenth-largest population and fifth-largest economy in Europe. Furthermore, the region features relatively low levels of corruption; with the Nordic countries being some of the least corrupt countries in the world. Also, the countries of the region place well in various international freedom rankings, with several of the states at the absolute top. The Nordic–Baltic countries also do well in surveys that measure the ease of doing business and creating new companies. The Human Development Index places many of the countries in the region among the most developed in the world.[9]
The Nordic–Baltic region is diverse, with a wealth of natural and cultural heritage, communities, destinations and resources. The region hosts a total of 42 World Heritage sites that are experiencing increasing pressures from tourism.[10] The Baltic states are described as three fascinating states that have glorious beaches along an extensive coastline, medieval old towns, and beautiful natural scenery, whereas the Nordic countries own spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes, archipelagos, glaciers, geysers, forests, waterfalls and volcanoes. There is much wilderness, including extensive arctic tundra.
Coordinating countries
The coordinator's role of the NB8 was formerly assumed by the country holding the chairmanship of the Nordic Council of Ministers for the respective year. From 2008 onwards, the Baltic States have been also involved in coordinating the NB8 foreign ministry co-operation. The coordinating country manages meeting schedules and hosts many meetings of different parties and levels in the NB8 format. Each year the coordinating country also issues a Progress Report.[11]
In 2013 the task of NB8 coordination was transferred to Sweden. As was assessed in a press release for the upcoming coordination by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs,[12] the areas of focus were directed towards the following: 1. Focus on the Eastern Partnership and joint agenda for the NB8 before the EU-summit in Vilnius, November 2013. 2. Cooperation within energy as an area of mutual interests, especially as a monitor of energy-related issues within other forums. The task of arranging most of the NB8 meetings and events in Sweden was assigned to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.[13]
In 2014, NB8 coordinator was Estonia with priorities being cyber cooperation, Eastern Partnership, energy cooperation, and security cooperation. In 2014 Estonia was also the coordinator for Baltic Cooperation and Council of the Baltic Sea States. Coordination of these three formats was named as the "Baltic Sea Year".
In 2015, Denmark's NB8 priorities are energy security, media in relation to Russian-speakers, the Ukraine conflict and the Eastern Partnership.
Banner of the Baltic and Nordic Cooperation Year chaired by Latvia in 2016. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
In 2016, Latvia's NB8 priorities were the strengthening of security (including strengthening of energy security, promotion of strategic communication, reinforcing cyber security, fight against hybrid threats) and support for the EU Eastern Partnership.[14]
In 2017, the coordinating country was Norway. The priorities were set in regional issues (regional security, hybrid and resilience issues, cybersecurity, open and free media, strategic communication, energy security and energy markets, EU Eastern Partnership, attention to the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU, economic development, competitiveness and innovation, synergies among Nordic 5, NB6 and Nordic Council of Ministers). The other set of priorities was based in broader strategic issues (transatlantic relations (United States, NATO, Euro-Atlantic bonds), the future of the European Union, Brexit, migration, the Bratislava process), Russia, UN issues (including the Security Council) and terrorism.
In 2020, Estonia coordinated both the NB8 as well as the Baltic Council of Ministers. Its priorities in both settings were regional security, including the Eastern Partnership, transatlantic relations; cyber cooperation; connectivity, including regional energy and transport projects and digital cooperation; climate change and environmental issues; and cultural and health cooperation.
NB8 format
On the political level, co-operation in the NB8 format is conducted primarily in the form of annual meetings of the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers. The Foreign Ministers' meetings have taken place since 1993. In addition to the foreign ministers and prime ministers, other ministers and ministry officials also meet on a regular basis. In the realm of foreign policy, there are many meetings held in addition to the annual meeting of the foreign ministers. The secretaries general, political directors, and experts in various fields from the foreign ministries also get together regularly, and there are frequent meetings of diplomats in foreign representations within the NB8 format.[15]
During the recent years the Baltic and Nordic countries have developed a cohesive network of cooperation activities in political, military, economic, environmental, cultural and other aspects. After the EU and NATO enlargement in 2004 cooperation is becoming closer thereby activating the potential for development in the Baltic Sea region. Several examples of such evolved cooperation is the work of NB8 Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings and the creation of the common Nordic – Baltic education and research area.
On 17 August 2010, the financial supervisory authorities, central banks, finance ministries and other relevant ministries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden signed a cross-border agreement on financial stability. The Nordic-Baltic Cooperation Agreement on Cross-border Financial Stability enhanced cooperation by establishing routines and procedures for information sharing and coordination. The aim is to reduce the risk of a financial crisis spreading cross-border, and to enhance possibilities to reach an efficient crisis management. By signing the agreement, the public authorities in the Nordic and Baltic countries increase their preparedness to handle problems in cross-border banks. The NB8 countries are jointly represented in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The Baltic states are members of the Nordic Investment Bank.
The Baltic states—Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia—have achieved an exceptional level of a trilateral co-operation, which, by its depth and intensity, can be compared to the Nordic co-operation. Three Baltic states have established the Baltic Council of Ministers as well as the Baltic Assembly, whereas the integration of the Nordic countries has achieved an unprecedented level in the past forty years since the Nordic Council of Ministers was established in 1971. Cooperation among the parliamentarians of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council dates back to 1989.
The Nordic Council of Ministers offices opened in the three Baltic capitals (Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius) in 1991 play a key role in the dynamic Nordic–Baltic co-operation.
Guidelines for the Nordic Council of Ministers' Co-operation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 2014
The Nordic Council of Ministers' co-operation with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is directed by guidelines agreed by the Nordic Ministers for Co-operation in July 2013 and adopted by the Nordic Council in October 2013. These express a desire to develop Nordic-Baltic co-operation in areas of common interest and thus strengthen work towards political stability and a strong economy in the Baltic Sea Region.[16]
The Nordic Council of Ministers has a special interest in developing certain key areas which include the following central themes in particular:
Education, research and innovation
Business, cluster co-operation and creative industries
The environment, climate and energy, including environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea and the promotion of effective environmental technologies and renewable sources of energy
The international challenges faced by welfare societies. Possible areas of co-operation include combating human trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS; improving co-operation between police forces and public prosecution services; developing hospital services; and addressing demographic challenges in relation to, e.g. labour-market policy.
Cross-border regional co-operation to promote joint fundamental values, such as democracy, good governance, gender equality, freedom of speech and tolerance – both under Nordic–Baltic auspices and in relation to other neighbouring countries, including Belarus.
During the co-ordination of the co-operation among the NB-8 Foreign Ministries in 2012, Latvia initiated the preparation of a comprehensive analysis and recommendation how to advance the Nordic-Baltic co-operation. Latvia, presiding over the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2010, and Denmark, chairman of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2010, nominated two high level representatives (rapporteurs) – former Latvian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr Valdis Birkavs representing the Baltic countries and former Danish Minister of Defense Mr Søren Gade representing the Nordic countries – to provide the respective analysis. Before compiling the NB8 Co-operation Report (NB8 Wise Men Report), which was completed in August 2010, the rapporteurs made a very intensive consultation process with representatives from all the NB8 countries. Practical implementation of the Wise Men's 38 recommendations is ongoing.[2] Concrete suggestions were made in the following fields:
Foreign political dialogue.
Cooperation on diplomatic representations.
Civil security, including cyber security.
Defense cooperation.
Energy.
The NB8 brand.
The Birkavs - Gade report with the initial recommendations has been presented for the NB8 Ministerial meeting in Helsinki on 26–27 August 2011. A number of other Birkavs - Gade report recommendations have been or are being implemented consecutively.
Reinforced diplomatic cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries
One of the Birkavs - Gade recommendations proposed that sharing diplomatic facilities is a way of increasing diplomatic representation in parts of the world where budgetary constraints and priorities would otherwise have prevented such representation. At the same time extended cooperation in this field could also contribute to making NB8 cooperation more visible. More should therefore be done in the area of joint diplomatic representation. A first step could be the setting up of an informal clearing house where the NB8 countries could share information about opportunities for housing other NB8 countries' diplomats.[17]
On 30 August 2011 the Nordic and Baltic Ministers of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the posting of diplomats at each other's missions abroad. The Memorandum made it easier for the Nordic and Baltic countries to maintain a diplomatic presence around the world by enabling flexible and cost-effective solutions. This reinforced diplomatic cooperation coincided with the twentieth anniversary of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania regaining their freedom and re-establishing diplomatic relations with other countries. The memorandum regulates the diplomatic and practical aspects of posting diplomats to the mission abroad of another Nordic or Baltic country.[18]
NB6 - cooperation among Nordic and Baltic EU Member States
Since 1 May 2004, six Nordic and Baltic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are the European Union members. Regular informal NB6 Prime Ministers' meetings on EU matters take place on the eve of Council meetings as well as Foreign Affairs Ministers of these six countries meet on the eve of General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council meetings.
Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE)
Launched in 2003, e-PINE[19] is a format in which the NB8 and the United States Political Directors of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs meet. Cooperation takes place in three major areas: cooperative security, healthy societies and vibrant economies.
The Northern Future Forum is an annual, informal meeting of Prime Ministers, policy makers, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the NB8 countries and the United Kingdom. Initially referred to as UK-Nordic-Baltic Summit, the name Northern Future Forum was introduced at the second meeting in Stockholm. Northern Future Forum has been hosted in London (2011), Stockholm (2012), Riga (2013), Helsinki (2014), and in Reykjavik (2015). In 2016, it was planned to hold the event in Stavanger, Norway, but it was postponed and eventually took place in 2018.
NB8 and Visegrad Group
NB8 and Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) Ministers of Foreign Affairs have been meeting since 2013. The first meeting was held in Gdansk, Poland. In 2014 the ministers met in Narva, Estonia; in 2015 - in High Tatras at Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia. In 2016, the meeting was held on the shore of the Baltic Sea in the city of Jūrmala, Latvia. In 2017, the meeting was planned to take place in spring in Poland.
The Republic of Estonia gained its independence from the Russian Empire on 24 February 1918 and established diplomatic relations with many countries via membership of the League of Nations. The forcible incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union in 1940 was not generally recognised by the international community and the Estonian diplomatic service continued to operate in some countries. Following the restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Russia was one of the first nations to re-recognize Estonia's independence. Estonia's immediate priority after regaining its independence was the withdrawal of Russian forces from Estonian territory. In August 1994, this was completed. However, relations with Moscow have remained strained primarily because Russia decided not to ratify the border treaty it had signed with Estonia in 1999.
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia covers an area of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi), with a population of 1.9 million. The country has a temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Riga. Latvians belong to the ethnolinguistic group of the Balts and speak Latvian, one of the only two surviving Baltic languages. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population.
Foreign relations of Latvia are the primary responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Today's Republic of Latvia regards itself as a continuation of the 1918–1940 republic. After the declaration on the restoration of its full independence on August 21, 1991, Latvia became a member of the United Nations on September 17, 1991, and is a signatory to a number of UN organizations and other international agreements. Latvia welcomes further cooperation and integration with NATO, European Union, OECD and other Western organizations. It also seeks more active participation in UN peacekeeping efforts worldwide.
Lithuania is a Northern country on the south-eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, a member of the United Nations Organisation, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the World Trade Organisation. Currently, Lithuania maintains diplomatic relations with 186 states Lithuania became a member of the United Nations on 18 September 1991, and is a signatory to a number of its organizations and other international agreements. It is also a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO and its adjunct North Atlantic Coordinating Council, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization on 31 May 2001.
The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary Nordic cooperation among the Nordic countries. Formed in 1952, it has 87 representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as from the autonomous areas of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. The representatives are members of parliament in their respective countries or areas and are elected by those parliaments. The Council holds ordinary sessions each year in October/November and usually one extra session per year with a specific theme. The council's official languages are Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish, though it uses only the mutually intelligible Scandinavian languages—Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish—as its working languages. These three comprise the first language of around 80% of the region's population and are learned as a second or foreign language by the remaining 20%.
The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term encompassing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three countries are members of NATO, the European Union, the Eurozone, and the OECD. The three sovereign states on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea are sometimes referred to as the "Baltic nations", less often and in historical circumstances also as the "Baltic republics", the "Baltic lands", or simply the Baltics.
The terms Baltic Sea Region, Baltic Rim countries, and the Baltic Sea countries/states refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea, mainly in Northern Europe. The term "Baltic states" refers specifically to one such grouping.
The Latvian diplomatic service in exile was the only governmental body of the Republic of Latvia which continued its activities during the Nazi and Soviet occupation of Latvia during 1940–1991. Latvian diplomats who were stationed in embassies and consulates at the moment of the occupation in 1940, refused to recognize the occupation and return to Soviet Latvia. They continued to formally represent the interests of Latvia in countries that did not recognize the Soviet annexation. After the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, the diplomats started reporting to the restored Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Baltic Assembly (BA) is a regional organisation that promotes intergovernmental cooperation between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It attempts to find a common position in relation to many international issues, including economic, political and cultural issues. The decisions of the assembly are advisory.
Greek-Latvian relations are the bilateral relations between Greece and Latvia. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, of NATO and the European Union. The Latvian embassy in Athens was established in 1998. Latvia also has two honorary consulates in Piraeus and in Thessaloniki. The Greek embassy in Riga was opened in January 2005.
Denmark–Latvia relations refers to the historical and current diplomatic relations between Denmark and Latvia. Denmark has an embassy in Riga and Latvia has an embassy in Copenhagen.
Northern Future Forum is an annual, informal meeting of prime ministers, policy innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the 9 nations of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Initially referred to as the UK Nordic Baltic Summit, the name Northern Future Forum was introduced at the second meeting in Stockholm, 2012. The group had a period of abeyance since the Stavanger meeting in 2016 was postponed following the outcome of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, and David Cameron subsequently stepping down as UK prime minister, to be succeeded by Theresa May. The summit was reconvened in October 2018 in Oslo.
The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) was established in 1991 as a forum for political dialogue between parliamentarians from the Baltic Sea Region. BSPC aims at raising awareness and opinion on issues of current political interest and relevance for the Baltic Sea Region. It promotes and drives various initiatives and efforts to support a sustainable environmental, social and economic development of the Baltic Sea Region. It strives at enhancing the visibility of the Baltic Sea Region and its issues in a wider European context.
Lithuania–Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Relationships are mainly defined by the membership of both countries to the European Union and to NATO. Lithuania has an embassy in Madrid and honorary consulates in La Coruña, Albacete, almería, Barcelona, Bilbao, santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valencia. Spain have an embassy in Vilnius since December 2013.
Latvia–Uzbekistan relations are bilateral relations between Latvia and Uzbekistan. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 3 November 1992. Both countries were Soviet socialist republic of the USSR from 1940 until 1991. Latvia has an embassy in Tashkent which is also accredited to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, and in which Estonia issues visas to Uzbeks, and Uzbekistan has an embassy in Riga which is also accredited to Lithuania. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) is an institution for intergovernmental cooperation between the Baltic states: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia established in 1994. It has decision-making powers only if representatives of all three Baltic states are present and decisions are made by consensus. A similar institution is the Baltic Assembly, an institution for parliamentary co-operation among the Baltic states, established on November 8, 1991. The two closely cooperate, with formal mechanisms, the trilateral agreement on governmental and parliamentary co-operation and protocols on specific cooperation mechanisms established in 2003-2004.
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