Established: By enabling legislation passed by the parliaments of the founding member states, following agreement at a foreign ministers' meeting on March 16, 1952, in Copenhagen, Denmark, with effect from February 12, 1953.

Purpose: To provide a forum for consultation among the legislatures and governments of the member states on matters of common interest and to promote cooperation on cultural, economic, legal, social, and other matters.

Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark.

Principal Organs: Plenary Assembly, Presidium, Secretariat.

Web site: www.norden.org

Secretary General: Halldór Ásgrímsson (Iceland).

Membership (5): Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Åland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden.

Observers: The Sámi (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

Official Languages: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish.

Origin and development. First advocated by Denmark in 1938, the Nordic Council grew out of an unsuccessful attempt ...

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