DATELINE COPENHAGEN: Nordic countries must reinforce cooperation on security of supply and other emergency preparedness issues, the Nordic Council said in a joint statement at a press conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 73rd Session of the Nordic Council is being held in person from November 1-4 at Christiansborg, the Danish Parliament. Potential means of enhancing Nordic cooperation include information exchange, shared awareness of situations and early dialogue on all possible scenarios and throughout crisis situations, the participants said. The Nordic Council also called for cooperation within supplies and logistics contingency planning and crisis management, as well as developing further joint exercises and training programs, Xinhua news agency reported.

The new agreement marks a more collaborative agenda, and came after five Nordic Prime Ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and three heads of government from the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Aland islands, concluded a round of discussions early on Wednesday morning.

“Nordic co-operation is a resource that makes it possible for the Nordic countries to strengthen their emergency preparedness and resilience,” said Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin at the press conference. “By stepping up Nordic co-operation on the security of supply and other emergency preparedness, we help to safeguard a Nordic Region that can take action in any situation.” In the joint statement, the Prime Ministers also stressed that all Nordic countries need to be better prepared “for scenarios that require immediate crisis responses and emergency resources.”