The Nordic countries, their autonomous territories and the Baltic states want to reduce critical technological dependencies while building shared capabilities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
A common strategy towards 2030
Digitalisation ministers representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Åland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have adopted a joint approach to digital sovereignty. Meeting in Copenhagen, they acknowledged that some of the world’s most digitally advanced societies have become excessively reliant on a limited number of providers for services and infrastructure essential to their economies and public institutions.
Cloud services, cables and satellites
The declaration identifies artificial intelligence, cloud services, quantum technology, satellites and subsea communications cables as strategically important areas. Governments want closer collaboration on public procurement, stronger protection for digital infrastructure and additional investment in research, technology and skills, while maintaining international partnerships and fair competition rather than pursuing technological isolation.
More than a Nordic initiative
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were formally welcomed into the New Nordics AI partnership during the accompanying high-level forum. Their participation expands an initiative originally centred on Nordic cooperation into a wider Nordic-Baltic platform intended to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and improve regional competitiveness.
Funding must produce regional results
The ministers say future Nordic-Baltic funding should increasingly support projects capable of delivering tangible regional impact. Potential applications include shared cloud-connectivity procurement, stronger subsea-cable security and cross-border digital services building on initiatives such as the Nordic-Baltic electronic-identification project.
The implementation question
The declaration is politically significant because it acknowledges the strategic risks created by dependence on a handful of predominantly non-European technology companies. Its real importance, however, will depend on whether broad objectives are translated into joint procurement, identifiable alternative suppliers, shared infrastructure and measurable investment—areas in which national preferences and existing contracts may prove harder to align than ministerial language.
Suggested Online Sources: Nordic Council of Ministers · Joint ministerial declaration
