Nordic countries

The Nordic countries is a term used collectively for five countries in Northern Europe. The Nordic countries have an aggregate population of about 24 million. The Nordic Countries are also the member countries of the Nordic Council:

Related Topics:
Northern Europe - Nordic Council

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• Denmark
• Finland
• Iceland
• Norway
• Sweden

In addition, the following autonomous territories are associated members of the Nordic Council:

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• Åland (Finland)
• Faroe Islands (Denmark)
• Greenland (Denmark)

They enjoy a degree of self-government and have distinct separate identities within their respective countries.

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Lapland is the land where the Sami peoples live, and as such has a distinct identity. However, the Sami are a minority in each country, and thus there is no movement for an autonomy. The Sami Parliaments, founded in the 1990s, have very weak political influence, far from autonomy. Although formally similar to a government structure, the parliaments do not strive for sovereignty.

Related Topics:
Lapland - Sami people - Sami Parliaments - Sovereignty - Jemtia - Scania

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In loose usage, the term Scandinavia is sometimes used as a synonym for Nordic countries. Strictly speaking, however, since 1850's political and cultural Scandinavia only came to include Sweden, Norway and Denmark; whereas geographical and geological Scandinavia only includes Sweden, Norway and parts of Finland. The correct geological term for the area covered by Scandinavian Peninsula and whole of Finland is Fennoscandia, which is defined by the Fennoscandian shield, one of the oldest bedrocks in the world.

Related Topics:
Scandinavia - Political - Cultural - Geographical - Geological - Scandinavian Peninsula - Fennoscandia - Fennoscandian shield

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Before the 19th century, the term Nordic or Northern was often used to mean Northern Europe, including European Russia, the Baltic countries (at that time Estonia, Livonia and Curonia) and Greenland.

Related Topics:
Northern Europe - Europe - Russia - Baltic countries - Estonia - Livonia - Curonia

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In the European Union, the Northern dimension refers to external and cross-border policies covering the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries, and Russia.

Related Topics:
European Union - Northern dimension - Russia

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In recent years, Estonia has sought to align itself with the Nordic countries as well, citing linguistic and cultural closeness with Finland, and cultural similarities and historical ties with the other Scandinavian countries. In 1999, Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves gave a speech entitled "Estonia as a Nordic Country" to the Swedish Institute for International Affairs. In 2003, the foreign ministry also hosted an exhibit called "Estonia: Nordic with a Twist." In 2005, Estonia also joined the European Union's Nordic Battalion Group. The two leading investors in Estonia to date have been Sweden and Finland.

Related Topics:
1999 - Toomas Hendrik Ilves - Swedish Institute for International Affairs - 2003 - Foreign ministry - European Union

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Nordic countries: History ►