Nordic Council

Nordic Council, common advisory council of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), consisting of parliamentary delegations and appointed cabinet representatives of each. It was founded in Copenhagen in 1953 by Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Finland joined in 1956. The Faroe Islands, Ahvenanmaa (Åland Islands), and Greenland also have representatives on the council.

The Nordic Council holds annual sessions in the five Scandinavian capitals on a rotating basis. The council’s work falls mainly in the social, economic, and cultural (including communications) fields. Its main objectives are to increase inter-Scandinavian cooperation and to coordinate national laws and practices. Resolutions take the form of recommendations to the five governments and are usually acted upon favorably.