Nordic Council of Ministers

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Nordic Council of Ministers

• Guidelines for Co-operation with Estonia, Latvia
  and Lithuania
• 2006-2008

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Why cooperate? Following the Baltic countries
accession to the EU, Nordic-Baltic cooperation
has changed in character. Aid-oriented
cooperation will be replaced by a broader
political partnership.   Future cooperation
should be in the interests of all participant
countries and of mutual Nordic-Baltic benefit
(NB8). Through joint Nordic-Baltic cooperation,
the countries will achieve more than they are in
a position to do separately.   Smaller countries
in the same geographical area will often share
common aims, although they may not be
specifically embodied in established relations.
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Main fields of co-operation Responsibility for
the environmental state of the Baltic Sea that
unites the Nordic and Baltic countries and
Northwest Russia.   Sustainable development
represents a strong common obligation and is a
field where the Nordic countries occupy a leading
position. This theme concerns environmental,
economic and social issues.   Cooperation in the
field of culture. In the future, culture will
continue to form the connective tissue of mutual
Nordic-Baltic cooperation, thereby contributing
to joint access to the development of democratic
societies, respectful of human rights and with
open economies.
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Common objective Nordic-Baltic cooperation should
have one clear objective to reinforce cohesion
between the eight countries. The results of such
NB8 cohesion can give positive effects on several
levels Increased international contacts in
the Baltic Sea region and strengthening of
political relations, but also of economies and
societal development. The Baltic Sea region can
become a dynamic centre in the new Europe.
Developing democracies through activities
fostering democracy and the rule of law. Through
cooperating with government authorities and NGOs,
the Nordic and Baltic countries can contribute to
strengthening democracy and societal development
in the Baltic Sea region.
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Key areas Key areas where the Nordic Council of
Ministers has special interest in developing
cooperation   Trans-boundary activities along
the new EU border could be developed on the
basis of positive Nordic experiences.   Research
and innovation work, as well as cooperation in
the field of education.   IT cooperation should
be developed in terms of content and
technology.   Social and health issues,
including the fight against drugs and
safeguarding the interests and needs of children
and young people.   Environment and sustainable
development.
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• Forms of cooperation
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• Exchange programmes are efficient with a view
  to building interpersonal relations.
• Joint initiatives that could form the basis of
  promoting projects of particular development
  value and thereby serve as path-finders.
• Exchange of experience and information could
  provide mutual benefit as part of a necessary
  benchmarking process.
• Cooperation within the framework of current
  Nordic institutions.

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Institutional cooperation   Several of the
Nordic Council of Ministers sectoral
institutions are involved in cooperative
activities in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will be offered
closer cooperation with Nordic institutions on
terms of mutual interest.   Cooperation between
institutions will be governed by needs and
characterized by a high degree of flexibility.
The possibility for full ownership (such as in
the NIB) or more comprehensive partnerships will
be kept open.
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Nordic Council of Ministers Offices
in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Northwest
Russia Future co-operation in the field of
education and research aims to strengthen
co-operation through the NCM offices in Estonia,
Latvia, Lithuania and Northwest Russia. The
aim is to develop established contacts with
government authorities and launch initiatives for
more systematic contacts with representatives
from the education and research sectors
themselves.
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• Nordplus Neighbour
• The aim to develop long-term, binding network
  cooperation among educational and research
  institutions and NGO-s which have education and
  lifelong learning as their objective.
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• The overarching aim of the programme
• to support the establishment of networks and
  educational co-operation between the Nordic and
  Baltic countries and Northwest Russia,
• to support the establishment of networks and
  cooperation among NGOs between the Nordic and
  Baltic countries and Northwest Russia.

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Nordplus Neighbour received 13 applications from
Estonia in 2006, 7 of them were granted with a
total of 1.350.000 NOK.
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• NORDPLUS FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 20082011
• Primary objectives
• Promote Nordic-Baltic linguistic and cultural
  understanding
• Contribute to the establishment of a
  Nordic-Baltic educational area
• Contribute to the development of quality and
  innovation in the educational systems for
  life-long learning by means of educational
  co-operation, development projects, exchanges and
  networking
• Support, develop and spread innovative products
  and processes in education through systematic
  exchange of experiences and best practice

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NORDPLUS JUNIOR   Primary objective   Link
elementary and high-school education institutions
(general and specialised subjects) in the
participating countries, establishing a network
for exchanging best practice and
innovation   Target groups Classes, teachers,
school principals and other staff in elementary
and youth education, plus individual
pupils   Main activities Mobility and development
projects
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NORDPLUS HIGHER EDUCATION   Primary
objective   Link higher education (HE)
institutions in the participating countries,
establishing a network for exchanging best
practice and innovation   Target groups HE
institutions (students, teachers and other
staff), organisations involved in HE, industry,
trade unions and business   Main
activities Networking on mobility, intensive
training, co-operation on quality control,
development of common curricula and other
co-operative activities
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NORDPLUS ADULT EDUCATION   Primary
objective   Development and renewal in adult
education in the participating countries through
the establishment of networks and co-operation
between those active in the sector   Target
groups Everyone involved in adult education
formal, non-formal and informal in educational
institutions, businesses, associations and
voluntary groups, in general or vocational adult
education and training, popular education or
working in voluntary groups   Main
activities Mobility projects for students and
teachers (preparatory meetings, further education
and study visits, teaching visits, exchanges of
students in adult and popular education courses),
thematic networking projects, development
projects and mapping projects of up to three
years duration
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NORDPLUS HORIZONTAL Primary objectives         
contribute to improved synergy and co-operation
in the context of life-long learning         
support innovative projects spanning traditional
categories and sectors, which can tackle new,
different, broader or more complex issues and
challenges          support innovative language
projects          promote more outward-looking
Nordic co-operation and support co-operation with
countries beyond the Nordic and Baltic
regions          support, contribute to and draw
benefit from European processes in the area of
education (particularly the Bologna and
Copenhagen Processes) Target groups          All
individuals, institutions and organisations in
the participating countries active in the area of
education and life-long learning Main
activities          Cross-sectoral development
and co-operation projects, networking, studies
and analyses, conferences, projects to promote
freedom of movement in education, and projects
addressing the distribution, exchange and
communication of results and experiences