Ahead of the 75th session of the Nordic Council on 30 October to 2 November, the Nordic Logistics Association (NLA) has been calling for the establishment of a Nordic Council of Transport Ministers.
The governments of the Nordic countries have In the Nordic Council of Ministers, agreed on a vision that by 2030 the Nordic Region should be “the most sustainable and integrated region in the world”. This vision does unfortunately not yet include cooperation on transport and infrastructure.
NLA has therefore underlined the importance of promoting joint Nordic solutions to common transport related issues, such as cross-border transport, green transition, and in particular a joint approach on EU legislation.
Increased cooperation and coordination can help the Nordic countries to develop common standards and strategies for road transport. This can help address common challenges such as transport safety, emission reductions and congestion, and enhance cooperation, especially at the level of EU legislation, which often lacks a Nordic perspective in the Council of Ministers.
NLA also believes that a Nordic Council of Transport Ministers can promote joint research and innovation in the transport sector. This can lead to the development of new technologies and practices that improve the efficiency, safety and environmental friendliness of road transport.
The concrete benefits of the Council will of course depend on how the Nordic Council of Transport Ministers is organised and how effective the cooperation between the countries becomes. NLA is ready to contribute with inspiration and solutions.
Read the opinion pieces issued by the board of NLA in Altinget in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish as well as the press release issued in Finnish.
