The Faroe Islands will have an active role in the Danish presidency in the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The Faroe Islands will have an active role in the Danish presidency in the Nordic Council of Ministers. Tha Faroe Islands’ role will include heading an energy project, which will address the supply of clean energy to islands and remote areas. The Faroese Enviroment Agency will manage the project.

Bárður á Steig Nielsen, Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands, commented: “In 2005 and 2010 the Faroe Islands were responsible for parts of the agenda in the Danish presidency. We feel that it is a natural progression that we now assume an even greater role and will also have the political lead in the areas of fisheries, agriculture and food. This illustrates that we are both willing and capable to participate in the Nordic cooperation on an equal footing with our Nordic neighbours.”

At the annual meeting of the Nordic Council, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen along with the Faroese and Greenlandic ministers for cooperation, Mr Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen and Mr Vittus Qujaukitsoq presented the agenda for the Danish presidency in 2020.

Mr Johannesen stated: “The presidency is a good opportunity for the Faroe Islands to assume an active role and lead a great Nordic project. We look forward to welcoming our partners to the Faroe Islands to work on securing sustainable energy solutions for island communities and other remote areas.”

The overarching theme for the presidency is “Together on solutions for the future”, and the aim is to present solutions that will develop and strengthen our societies. Three major projects will start in a three-year period.

The 2020 presidency is the first to build on the new vision that the leaders of the Nordic countries adopted in August 2019. The vision sets a course to make the Nordic countries the most sustainable and integrated region in the world by 2030.

Picture: Faroese Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met in Stockholm this week during the Nordic Council's session