The 2025 Session of the Nordic Council gathers prime ministers, heads of government, ministers, and 87 parliamentarians from across the Nordic Region to Stockholm, as Sweden chairs the 77th Session on 27-30 October. Ahead of the Nordic Council Session, Nordregio had the pleasure of welcoming the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation to its premises on 27 October.
Bridging research and policy
Nordregio’s hosting of the meeting of the co-operation ministers underlines the institute’s role as a knowledge hub for Nordic regional development and planning. By providing a space for dialogue and exchange, Nordregio supports informed decision-making and strengthens collaboration across the Nordic Region on key priorities such as sustainability, resilience and regional cohesion.
"We are pleased to welcome the ministers for Nordic co-operation to Stockholm. Hosting the ministers here at Nordregio underlines the importance of dialogue between research and policy. Meetings like this allow us to exchange knowledge directly with those shaping policy, ensuring that research contributes in practical ways to strengthening Nordic collaboration and addressing the challenges our societies face. By connecting research and policy, we can contribute to a stronger, more resilient Nordic Region." Rolf Elmér, Director, Nordregio
Nordregio’s expertise in focus
As an international research institute under the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordregio provides independent, policy-relevant knowledge to support Nordic collaboration and decision-making. Ongoing activities include:
- Research on civil preparedness and regional resilience – studies analysing regional vulnerabilities, resilience, and psychological security, addressed for instance at the Nordregio Forum: Navigating Crises coming up on 3-4 December 2025.
- State of the Nordic Region – flagship reports providing a comprehensive overview of Nordic development. The upcoming 2026 edition will cover topics such as demographic change, migration, labour market dynamics, and resilience in a global context.
- Nordic thematic groups and applied research – initiatives connecting municipal, regional, and national officials to tackle resilience, competitiveness, the green transition, and sustainable planning.
- Nordic statistics – hosting the Nordic Statistics Database and Nordic health and welfare statistics, supporting evidence-based policy and exchange of experience.
- GIS and mapping – advanced geographic information systems and data visualisation for analysing connections between demographics, labour markets, green transition, and regional economies.
Looking ahead to the Nordic Council Session and Nordic activities throughout the week
The ministers’ meeting at Nordregio provided an opportunity for preliminary discussions that will feed into the Nordic Council’s autumn session under the theme ‘The Nordics, together – Nordic value and cohesion in troubled times’. Key topics include citizen security, trust and democracy, sustainable development, and the green transition.
The Session of the Nordic Council is the largest political summit in the Nordic Region. You can follow the plenary debates from the Swedish Parliament and other sessions taking place during the week via online broadcasts.
Tune in also for the Nordic kick-off event towards COP30: Ambition, alliances and action! on 29 October (17:00-19:00 CET), when Nordic Climate Ministers will discuss Nordic joint contributions to global climate negotiations. The event will be hosted at and livestreamed from Nordregio’s office.