The Nordic region and the European Union

What is it about?

This chapter provides an overview and discussion of Nordic cooperation and the Nordic region in the EU. It discusses when the Nordic countries cooperate in the EU, why Nordic cooperation in the EU is relatively limited, and the characteristics of Nordic cooperation to the extent it takes place.

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Photo by Kym Ellis on Unsplash

Photo by Kym Ellis on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The Nordic countries are often characterized as successful international actors despite their limited size and capabilities. This chapter explains why the five Nordic countries - Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland - have often taken a more hesitant and reluctant approach towards the EU than other international institutions. The chapter argues that Nordic cooperation in the EU is limited, informal, technical, and focused on exchange of information and participation in larger clusters of likeminded states rather than joint policy initiatives. It illustrates how the Nordic countries aim to create bastions to defend the Nordic welfare states and their national autonomy, but that the Nordic countries pursue this shared aim with very different, sometimes contrasting interpretations of what constitutes the national interest in EU politics.

Perspectives