The Nordic Council will give Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland permanent seats on its presidium. This decision marks a substantial shift in the regional organization's governance structure.
The council announced the change through an official statement. Its presidium serves as the highest political leadership between the council's twice-yearly sessions.
Henrik Møller from the presidium presented the proposal. He said this move represents shared responsibility for developing cooperation that reflects today's Nordic region. It goes beyond simply changing a paragraph in procedural rules, he noted.
While Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland comprise the Nordic Council's full members, the three autonomous territories haven't held equal status. They can now participate in presidium decisions but remain outside full membership because member countries haven't updated the Helsinki Agreement.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously stated she supports amending this agreement. The proposal to modify procedures passed unanimously according to the council's release.
The change takes effect on January 1, 2026. Representatives from Greenland, Åland, and the Faroe Islands expressed satisfaction with their increased inclusion.
Greenlandic politician Justus Hansen welcomed the decision. He said Greenland looks forward to governments following through by updating the Helsinki Agreement as soon as possible.
Nordic Council members sit in national parliaments and get selected by fellow parliamentarians. No direct elections occur for council positions.
This structural change acknowledges the growing political importance of autonomous territories while highlighting unfinished institutional reforms. The unanimous vote suggests broad recognition that the council's composition needed updating to reflect contemporary Nordic realities.