Calls for a Common Nordic Situational Awareness in Civil Preparedness

At the summer meeting of the Nordic Council Presidium, which had to be held digitally due to weather conditions, the new strategy for societal security was discussed. The Centre Group wants to see a shared Nordic situational awareness, and that civil preparedness cooperation be elevated to the same level as military defence cooperation.

The forces of nature were in charge when the Presidium of the Nordic Council was to meet in Nuuk. The plane carrying the participants was above the Greenlandic capital when it had to turn back due to strong winds. It is not the first time that the weather has caused disruptions in the Nordic Council, but rarely have participants been so close without arriving. The meeting was therefore held digitally instead.

At the meeting, a draft of the Nordic Council’s updated strategy on societal security was discussed. The previous strategy dates from 2019. Many of the threats that at that time existed only in theory have since become reality.

The Centre Group emphasised the importance of a Nordic situational awareness at both the administrative and political levels. Both military and civil preparedness cooperation should aim to ensure that the Nordic countries share a common situational picture and can act together.

– One way to create a shared situational awareness is through parliamentary discussion. Reports from defence and foreign ministers have long been an important part of Nordic Council sessions, but the ministers responsible for societal security are lagging behind, says Jouni Ovaska, Chair of the Centre Group.

– For many years, the Centre Group has called for a report from the Nordic ministers responsible for societal security. In the end, we received a report on crisis preparedness from the cooperation ministers at the 2022 session in Helsinki, shortly after the pandemic. It is now time to resume that “tradition” as we approach the Nordic Council session in Helsinki at the end of October 2026!

Last autumn, the Centre Group submitted a proposal to strengthen the role of civil preparedness in Nordic cooperation. This was done against the backdrop of the rapidly developing military cooperation within NORDEFCO. The Centre Group wants civil and military cooperation to be symmetrical and therefore more coherent as a whole, particularly from the perspective of political leadership.

The Nordic Council’s societal security strategy is currently being updated, and a number of recommendations will be directed to the Nordic governments. The final decisions are expected to take place during the session in Helsinki in October 2026.