Nordic Globalisation Forum in Riksgränsen, Lapland

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt inauguraged the first Nordic Globalisation Forum with the words "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". The summit focuses on work and growth, climate and energy and the environment.

- "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". These were the words used by Charles Dickens in the opening paragraph of his book A Tale of Two Cities. In that context, it was a description of the ambivalence felt by people during the years of the French revolution. I don't wish to make any historical comparisons in general, but doesn't this description sound very much like today's debate about globalisation? We are all familiar with the concept of globalisation and the forms it is taking, said Prime Minister Reinfeldt.

- There are about 25 million people living in the Nordic countries - Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. This is about 0.5 per cent of the world's population. Despite their small populations and shares of the global economy, the Nordic countries have stood out and succeeded in holding their own globally. The peoples of the Nordic countries enjoy the fruits of democracy, human rights and economic prosperity and have a welfare model that is widely known.

- Globalisation and environmental change has confronted the Nordic countries with two major challenges: greater international competition and new trade opportunities. This is why the focus of this meeting is on employment and growth, and climate and energy, said Fredrik Reinfeldt.

During the meeting, four workshops are working with precisely these issues: work and growth, and climate and energy and the environment. Each workshop is led by a rapporteur. When the groups are ready, the results will be presented to the ministers and other delegates. A final declaration will be adopted at the end of the conference.