Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-Digital)

Finland will hold the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2021. This year also marks the beginning of a new four-year term of office for the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation (MR-Digital). MR-Digital was appointed for a fixed term of four years for the first time in 2017. In addition to the Nordic countries, the members of MR-Digital comprise the Baltic countries, or Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In 2021, MR-Digital is chaired by Sirpa Paatero, who is the Finnish Minister of Local Government and responsible for the digitalisation of public administration. The High Level Group HNG-Digital is chaired by Jarkko Levasma, Director General of Public Sector ICT.

The Digital North 2.0 declaration, which was adopted by the Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation MR-Digital, defines the priority areas of the cooperation for the next few years. The main objectives of the Digital North 2.0 declaration are:

  1. Increasing mobility and integration in the Nordic-Baltic region by building a common area for cross-border digital services
  2. Promoting green economic growth and sustainable development in the Nordic-Baltic region through data-driven innovation and a fair data economy for efficient sharing and re-use of data 
  3. Promoting Nordic-Baltic leadership in the EU/EEA and globally in a sustainable and inclusive digital transformation of our societies. 

The previous Digital North declaration was adopted in 2017. The declaration lay the foundation for cooperation related to digitalisation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. It highlighted the willingness to step up cooperation on digitalisation in the region and to become a forerunner in the implementation of a digital internal market and the development of harmonised digital infrastructure for the benefit of citizens, companies and the public administration.

Finland’s Presidency year will see the launch of the priority project World’s smoothest cross-border mobility and daily life through digitalisation. The purpose of this project is to promote cross-border information exchanges between authorities. The Finnish Ministry of Finance and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will be responsible for steering and implementing the project. At the Nordic level, the project will be steered by MR-Digital.

World’s smoothest cross-border mobility and daily life through digitalisation

Digital North 2.0. declaration

Press release on the Digital North 2.0. declaration

Nordic Council of Ministers for Digitalisation

Watch the meeting videos

 

 

Further information:
Senior Specialist Katja Väänänen, tel. +358 295 530 245, katja.vaananen(at)gov.fi