Nordiska rådets president Erkki Tuomioja och vicepresident Lulu Ranne.
Photographer : ROYAL PRESS Zhong Min Peng
BY: The Nordic Council
Erkki Tuomioja has been elected as the new President of the Nordic Council. Lulu Ranne has been elected Vice President. The pair both come from Finland, which holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council next year. Finland’s priority for 2022, which also marks the 70th anniversary of the Council, will be to promote a sustainable, secure and borderless Nordic Region.
Erkki Tuomioja has been a member of the Nordic Council for many years. A member of the Social Democratic Group, he also sits on the Presidium. It is the second time he has been President. The first was in 2008. With the exception of the periods during which he served as a minister in the Finnish government, Tuomioja has been a member of the Nordic Council since 1970.
He says that he wants to build on the continuity of Nordic co-operation.
“This means that we will continue the promote freedom of movement and the sustainable development of the environment, the economy and the social sector, all of which are areas in which the Nordic Region has set an example for the rest of the world. We may not be perfect, but we have done many things better than most and need to share the lessons learned with those who are interested in the progress we have made.”
Lulu Ranne calls for more effective co-operation
Lulu Ranne is a member of the Nordic Freedom Group and chair of the Freedom of Movement Group. Her priority will be areas in which Nordic co-operation can provide tangible added value to the people of the Region.
“The people of the Nordic Region support co-operation. They think it is good but too remote. I hope that the Finnish Presidency will help to make it more concrete, effective and closer to the people. A safe and amenable everyday life for all Nordic citizens is something for which every politician can surely agree to strive. I want companies, the workforce, students, friends and relatives, assistance and all good things to be able to move freely between the Nordic countries,” says Ranne.
Tuomioja and Ranne were unanimously elected at the Session of the Nordic Council on 4 November. They take up office at the start of January and will serve during what will be a special year, as the Nordic Council celebrates its 70th anniversary and marks the occasion in several ways.
The Nordic model faces challenges
The Finnish programme for the Presidency of the Nordic Council in 2022 highlights the Nordic welfare model as one of the most important Nordic achievements. It also points out that the pandemic has presented the countries with new challenges.
The situation has tested the sustainability of the Nordic model. We need a shared vision of where the world is headed and what part we want to play in it, so that we are in a position to address challenges together, according to the new programme.
During the Presidency, Finland wants to conduct a critical assessment of the welfare model, analyse its current state and then look at what challenges the future may bring. The goal is to future-proof the conditions needed for the Nordic welfare model to work.
Finland wants a strong Nordic Region
Sustainability is a high priority in the programme. For example, it says that the most important tasks facing co-operation are to support and promote economic development, curb climate change, preserve and promote biodiversity and build a green Nordic Region. In 2022, Finland will promote the circular economy, sustainable forestry and protection of the oceans.
A part of the programme is also devoted to security, especially in the light of the actions taken by the Nordic countries during the corona crisis. Finland stresses that the Nordic Council wants a strong Nordic Region so that the countries are better prepared to face future crises and pandemics together.
