Nordic Nations to Strengthen Cooperation in EUPrime Ministers from the five Nordic nations started their annual meeting Sunday in the eastern Finnish city of Imatra, during which Sweden, Denmark and Finland agreed to strengthen cooperation to increase their say in the European Union (EU).During their conference Sunday afternoon, prime ministers of the five Nordic nations focused on Nordic collaboration, results on EU expansion and sustainable development during Sweden's EU presidency, EU's future and cooperation within the European Economic zone. They also exchanged views on reinforcing cooperation with the Baltic countries and Russia. Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen told a joint press conference after the meeting that it is inevitable for the Nordic nations to strengthen their cooperation and put the cooperation in a prior position. Their wish to influence EU policies and actively play their roles in international affairs necessitate the cooperation, said Rasmussen. Swedish Premier Goran Persson and his Finnish counterpart Paavo Lipponen also expressed their expectation to build more harmonious Nordic cooperation in the EU to better coordinate the stances of the Nordic nations. Lipponen stressed that developing the cooperation with the Baltic nations and the northwestern regions of Russia through EU's northward expansion policy is one of the important issues which are of mutual concern among the Nordic members of the EU. Besides, the Nordic countries also want to enhance their cooperation with Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Icelandic Premier David Oddsson said that Norway and Iceland are in favor of Nordic EU members' decision to strengthen cooperation to play a bigger role in European affairs. Prime ministers from the five countries will hold informal bilateral talks on Monday. The five leaders will meet again on October 28 in Copenhagen during the Nordic Council meeting. They will be joined by prime ministers from the three Baltic nations. |
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