Aavik shared more of his thoughts on Nordic identity, culture and society during the Vahetund Postimehega /An hour with the Postimees/ programme on Kuku Radio on 4 November, where he interviewed alongside ambassador Jaak Jõerüüt and Triin Oppi from the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia.
migrants and climate
The 67th session of the Nordic Council, otherwise known as the Nordic summit, focussed on future trends in Nordic cooperation and how to deepen it. However, it was the European migrant crisis that drew most attention at the summit, in particular the responses given by Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven to questions from members from Nordic parliaments regarding his country’s actions in response to the crisis. The Nordic countries did not hit upon a uniform approach in their discussions, but did agree to continue searching for joint solutions.
At the same time, both the ministers and the members from Nordic parliaments attending the session emphasised the importance of dealing with climate change and the need for a common Nordic stance at the COP21 climate talks in Paris in December.
A new proposal made during discussions was to establish a single Nordic citizenship, thereby also introducing dual citizenship. This, according to Finnish MP Carl Haglund, would help to tackle border obstacles between the countries.
Cybersafety
In addition to the prime ministers of the Nordic countries, the summit was attended by the foreign affairs, environment, culture, defence and development ministers from the region. The prime ministers of the Baltic States also arrived in Reykjavik to meet their Nordic colleagues on 28 October. Estonian prime minister Taavi Rõivas spoke on the topic of cybersafety. “Cyber threats remain an important issue we can’t skirt around at the international level,” he said. “Estonia is prepared to share its experience so as to boost cross-border cooperation in the field of cyber security.” Rõivas invited all of the Nordic countries to join the cyber defence centre in Tallinn.
News and discussions from the summit can be found on the official website of Nordic cooperation. Videos and photos from the event are also available on the site.
Awards in five categories are traditionally presented as part of the annual session by the Nordic Council. You can find out about this year’s winners here.
Representatives of the Baltic Assembly are invited to the Nordic Council session each year as well. Estonia was represented in Iceland by Riigikogu vice-president Helir-Valdor Seeder and Cultural Affairs Committee deputy chairman Aadu Must.
Attending the Nordic Council session from the Nordic Council of Ministers´ Office in Estonia was communications adviser Triin Oppi.