Nordic Prime Ministers adopt a new vision and meet with Angela Merkel

The annual summer meeting of the Nordic Prime Ministers was held in Reykjavik yesterday, with the participation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Nordic Prime Ministers adopted a new vision for the Nordic Council of Ministers for the next ten years, focusing on climate action and sustainability.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was a special guest participating in the meeting of the Nordic Prime Ministers where they discussed opportunities to increase Nordic-German co-operation to meet international challenges, not least regarding climate action and sustainable development.

During a press conference following the meeting, the Prime Ministers and the Chancellor of Germany made brief statements and answered questions from the media.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister:

“I am proud that the Nordic Prime Ministers, have adopted a new ambitious vision under Iceland’s presidency, aiming to make the Nordic region the most sustainable region in the world by 2030. Actions speak louder than words and the Nordic countries are committed to taking action that will achieve real results, both nationally and internationally. It was also important to have the opportunity to host Chancellor Merkel at our meeting. We all agree that Germany and the Nordic countries share a strong commitment to climate action and the core values we must uphold. Whether it is climate change, the future of the labour market or the future of democracy, our actions must always be based on our shared vision of social justice, gender equality and human rights – that is why we have decided to strengthen the partnerships between us.”

On the margins of the Nordic Prime Ministers’ meeting, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister, had several bilateral meetings, including with the German Chancellor. Furthermore, she met with the Nordic CEOs for a Sustainable Future, a group of 14 Nordic companies committed to sustainability. In a joint declaration, the Prime Ministers and the CEOs presented an extensive list of necessary and urgent measures that must be taken if the Nordic Region is to live up to its commitments under the Paris Agreement and the SDGs.