Nordics teaming up on refugee integration

Nordic Council of Ministers to facilitate ongoing co-operation

The minister for defence and Nordic co-operation, Peter Christensen, met with his Nordic colleagues in Helsinki yesterday to discuss a co-operation regarding a better integration of refugees and immigrants.

The ministers decided the Nordic Council of Ministers would facilitate an ongoing co-operation and meetings with experts and practitioners within the relevant ministerial areas – such as culture, education, health, equality and business.

“Whatever our views on asylum policy, we can all agree it is important to integrate those who are granted residence permits,” said Christensen.

“The integration of refugees and immigrants is an arena that will benefit considerably from the co-operation of the Nordic nations, where we can draw on one another’s experiences across ministerial boundaries.”

READ MORE: Nordic ministers to boost logistics of refugee situation

Responding to Reykjavik
The ministers agreed to set aside funds in 2016 to assist in reaching the strategy, which was established at the Nordic prime ministers’ meeting in Reykjavik last year.

Other items of interest discussed at the meeting this week included the Nordic role in the EU and Arctic, next year’s budget, and future reforms.

Aside from Christensen, representatives from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland were present at the meetings.

The meeting in Helsinki was the first of its kind since Finland took over as head of the Nordic Council of Ministers from Denmark on January 1.




  • How saying ‘yes’ to doing things led international Martijn Koekkoek to carve out a career in networking in Denmark

    How saying ‘yes’ to doing things led international Martijn Koekkoek to carve out a career in networking in Denmark

    Entrepreneurship wasn’t on the cards for Koekkoek when he moved to Copenhagen 15 years ago, but both by design and necessity, he laid the foundations of Everybody Networks Here—a networking community that encourages internationals to come as they are and connect over shared stories, passions, and struggles in an informal and inclusive setting.

  • Is Denmark’s budget surplus thanks to internationals?

    Is Denmark’s budget surplus thanks to internationals?

    Between 2002 to 2023, Denmark’s annual public balances have been underestimated by an average of 1,8% of GDP each year by the Ministry of Finance. The continued error accumulates 1,049 billion DKK unaccounted for the whole 20-year span. As the Danish government increasingly attracted international residents over that period, to what extent are internationals contributing to the country’s economic growth?

  • Bringing international theatre to the masses

    Bringing international theatre to the masses

    In a continually more globalized Copenhagen, the international crowds’ increasing demands for English entertainment have so far not been met. Now, an English-language theatre troupe, made up of internationals, is trying to bring Nordic high culture to the international crowd of Denmark

  • Trained nurses trapped in the system: Is it discrimination?

    Trained nurses trapped in the system: Is it discrimination?

    Despite language skills and years of experience, international healthcare professionals are unemployed due to system failures at SIRI and hospital recruitment.

  • Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen removed as CEO of Novo Nordisk

    Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen removed as CEO of Novo Nordisk

    According to a “mutual agreement” between board members of the global healthcare company Novo Nordisk, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen will step down from his position as CEO. He was appointed at this position since January 2017

  • “More internationals should learn Danish”: interview to Studieskolen director

    “More internationals should learn Danish”: interview to Studieskolen director

    Qasim Shaikh, Managing Director of Studieskolen since August 2024, comments on the survey, pointing out that more Danes are becoming uncomfortable with English replacing Danish: “More internationals should consider learning the language. It would make their lives here easier.”