Interview with Kristina Háfoss, Secretary General, Nordic Council

07 Oct Interview with Kristina Háfoss, Secretary General, Nordic Council

Kristina Háfoss, Secretary General, Nordic Council, talks about the strengths of the Nordic region and the importance of cooperation between governments in properly tackling larger issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

What differentiates the Nordic region from other global markets and what is the role of the Nordic Council?

In terms of gross domestic product, the Nordic region is currently the world’s 11th largest economy. Our indexes for happiness are high. The reason people in Nordic countries are happy is because we have developed societies where it is possible for people to be happy. The Nordic welfare state is an important element of this. We have solidaric tax systems and free education, health services and welfare. While we also have problems with inequality, we are among the most equal societies in the world. The Nordic region is an inspiration in how to change the negative trend of increasing inequality and having a more equal world. Strong democracies and rules of law combined with welfare states allow for increased security, trust in public systems, rights as individuals and drive towards opportunities. Trust is the foundation of the Nordic welfare system that aims to ensure every child has equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and have a happy life.

The Nordic Council was formed due to hard lessons in the world wars and Nordic countries’ desire to create stability and international cooperation. It has been inspiring to begin working for one of the oldest interparliamentary regional partnerships in the world. Next year we will have our 70th anniversary. Our vision for 2030 is to be the world’s most sustainable and integrated region. Our action plan includes cooperation on different green transition projects, promotion of green growth within industry and increased social sustainability.

What global challenges require cooperation from Nordic countries and other international markets?

We have had — and still have — many large international challenges that require international cooperation and solutions. In terms of green transition and tackling climate change, it does not help to have each country just look at its own box and solutions. Other global challenges include threats to democracy and the rule of law. Additionally, inequality is a deeply worrying issue that over time will create enormous instability and has often been overlooked. We also need to get back to focusing on not just the green transition, but social sustainability. We need to create stronger welfare and tax systems to boost equality in the world. The Nordic region has the possibility to be a lighthouse for the world and show the way forward to overcome today’s largest challenges.

Additionally, rapid digitalization is changing the way we will live our lives. Nordic countries have close cooperation with Baltic countries and together we are a global frontrunner in digitalization. We are continuously working on doing things better and sharing information. The ministers for digitalization in all Nordic and Baltic countries meet on a regular basis to ensure the solutions we choose can be used across borders. While there are huge opportunities in this area, there are also challenges. Giving the power back to the people regarding their own personal data is very important. We must ensure solutions benefit the people and we are not digitizing for the sake of digitalization. Our theme session at the Nordic Council in June was focused on cybersecurity and hybrid threats. We must strengthen international cooperation in these areas. If you want to succeed in implementing digital frameworks, people must trust solutions. Transparency is highly important. Luckily, our nations have created a high level of trust.

Can you give an example of how cooperation was used to solve a key issue in the Nordic region?

A good example of cooperation in digital areas was the launch of the biggest digitization project in the Faroe Islands. In 2015, the government began building roads, tunnels and buildings. The government took control of the construction of digital infrastructure to create better services for the people. Previously people had to have one login for banks, electricity companies and the like. In this way, we were losing benefits and control over our own data. We chose to implement a new digital infrastructure inspired by Estonia built on four pillars. First, we created a new electronic identification that is safe and coordinated. We wanted all big companies, municipalities and governments to take part in this. The second pillar was the use of X-Road, which is a safe way to exchange data. The same system is used in Estonia, Finland and Iceland. Our third pillar was to digitize all basic data in the country, including geographical, personal and industry data. Our last pillar was a citizen portal to ensure that people could log in and find solutions for problems involving the public sector, municipalities and private companies who wanted their services available. The five-year project has gone well. Many entities and individuals have adopted the electronic identification and used these services. It is possible to use digitalization in a positive way, but it demands that policymakers take responsibility and make certain decisions.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic change the way countries cooperate in the Nordic region?

To see large change, something unusual needs to happen. The COVID-19 epidemic was a shock for Nordic countries and the world. One does not know what they have until they lose it. People suddenly lost the ability to travel, work and study across borders. Because the crisis came so abruptly, we saw every nation and government turn their focus on their own country. The result was not optimal for the people; it is much wiser to think in regions rather than national borders because a virus does not know geographical boundaries. Northern Norway, Sweden and Finland saw similar situations during the pandemic but had three different systems with closed borders. This was the same in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmo, Sweden, who are linked across borders by a bridge.

While some say the pandemic has hurt cooperation in Nordic countries, I believe the opposite. The COVID-19 crisis has opened our eyes to the importance of even closer cooperation and being able to move freely to study and work abroad. We have seen what it means to not have open borders and cooperation in education and labor markets. The pandemic has shown us our weaknesses and opened the door for more cooperation in areas such as social and welfare systems and tax agreements. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative consequences, it has shown us how important international cooperation is in solving problems and what we can do when we come together. Many positive international initiatives were launched during this period. The possibility now exists for Nordic countries to take the next important steps.

What has the Nordic Council done during the crisis to ensure the safety and wellness of all citizens?

The Nordic Council has first and foremost tried to enhance communication between involved governments and parliaments. The organization has been active in posing questions and giving recommendations on how to do things more intelligently and safely and ensure we get through the pandemic in the best way possible. All Nordic parliamentarians now realize we can do things better in the future. We have implemented concrete initiatives to look at how we handled the crisis and how we can ensure we find better solutions from a larger Nordic perspective rather than just a national one during similar periods. Later in 2021, the Nordic prime ministers will meet with the 87 Nordic parliamentarians at the Nordic Council summit in Copenhagen to discuss concrete initiatives and ensure we learn from these historical times, strengthen Nordic cooperation and ensure safety and prosperity for all people in the region.

It was impressive how fast everyone adapted to the new digital reality necessary due to the COVID-19 situation in the council. Usually ministers from all Nordic countries meet physically. In June, we had our first 100% digital session in the Nordic Council where we voted and had debates on recommendations from the 87 Nordic parliamentarians. It functioned very well. In the last year we had more political meetings than ever before. Although we look forward to meeting physically, I am confident we will continue to use digital tools in a smarter way.