1 Nordic Statistical Cooperation Management Group on Statistical Cooperation March 2011, Luxembourg Richard Ragnarsøn Head of International Secretariat Statistics Norway

Nordic cooperation – the countries Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland The three autonomous territories: the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland A region of approx. 25 million people And 8 official languages

Nordic cooperation - objective Nordic cooperation is one of the oldest and most comprehensive regional partnerships anywhere in the world. It is based on common values and the will to generate dynamic development and enhance the Region’s skills and competitiveness. Nordic cooperation has firm traditions in politics, the economy and culture. Nordic cooperation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community.

Main bodies and achievements The Nordic Council – the inter- parliamentary forum (1952) The Nordic Council of Ministers – the inter-governmental body (1971) The essence of the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers’ work is to generate synergies that benefit the citizens of the Region Nordic milestones: Passport Union (1957) Helsinki Treaty (1962) Agreement on a fully integrated labour market (1982) Nordic Language Convention (1987) The Swan Label (1989) Free access to higher education (1996)

Director Generals of Nordic NSIs -Meeting (1889) -Chair Nordic Contact Network 1 (Specific statistics or crosscutting areas) Nordic Contact Network Nordic Contact Network 52 International Secretariats of Nordic NSIs Nordic Statistical Cooperation - organisation Nordic Statistical Meeting 3 years

Contact networks - extract

Contact networks - tasks I Overall objective: ” to contribute to the further development of Nordic statistical expertise, such as the process and characteristics of the use of administrative registers, parallel development of methodology, user information, objectives to ensure a moderate burden on data providers..” Concrete tasks: Exchange of information and experiences Take advantage of potential fellow Nordic development projects and utilise the benefits of potential work sharing

Contact networks - tasks II Exchange of views – and if possible – coordination of positions prior to international meetings and written consultations Planning Nordic meetings/seminars where there is a specific need for these Carry out special tasks mandated by chief statisticians on an ad hoc basis Rotating chairmanship – three years: Take initiative, contact, meetings, reporting, coordination of activities

Outcome - some examples In general – development of harmonised statistics, methods and tools. Network to consult, pool of experts, learning from best practice. Nordic Statistical Yearbook and Nordic Statistical Bank – PC-Axis – software for data management, data dissemination –Other related tools; PX Web, PX Map, PX Edit... –Other countries in EU, Africa, South-America, Asia... Nordic Innovation statistics –publications and development projects (

Extended cooperation - some examples Cooperation on census and registers –Extended from Nordic to the Netherlands, Slovenia and Austria Statistics and Open Standards group (SOS) –Nordic, the Netherlands, [UK and CH] –Sharing statistical software components for statistics production Cooperation in technical assistance –Nordic projects in developing countries –Utilisation of experts

Concluding remarks The 120 years of Nordic cooperation in statistics has been very useful for the development of official statistics and its production in the region. Success factors –Emerged of need and mutual interest – not decided upon –Nordic countries: similar statistical systems and societies hence common challenges and problems –Continuous development of cooperation. Challenged by the stronger EU-integration, but still a need for regional cooperation. Successful cooperation builds on –”A common interest –Common goals (as concrete as possible) –Shared understanding of desired level of cooperation –Clear added value (within a reasonable timeframe)” GalanGroep report