The Confederation of the Norden Associations or FNF, which is the Nordic Short form, is the body that brings together the national Nordic associations and the Youth League of the Norden Associations (FNU).

The confederation also works closely with Eesti Põhjala Ühing (the Nordic Association in Estonia), Biedrība Norden Latvija (the Nordic Association in Latvia) and the Nordic Association in Petrozavodsk.

The Confederation’s main responsibility is co-ordinating the joint interests of the national associations by promoting closer co-operation at all levels. Its programmes and principles are based on the same priorities as the Nordic associations’ national work.

FNF’s objective is to disseminate knowledge of the other Nordic countries’ language, culture, history and society. Its initiatives encourage closer co-operation at grassroots level between the Nordic countries, across Europe and throughout the world, via projects such as Norden i Skolen, Nordjobb, Nordic Literature Week and Nordisk Jobløsning.

The Norden Associations

The Norden associations are independent, non-party organisations that promote closer Nordic co-operation, open borders in the Region and a deeper sense of cultural affinity. The associations work together under the auspices of the Confederation of Norden Associations.

The Norden Association was founded in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in 1919, then in Iceland in 1922, Finland in 1924, the Faroe Islands in 1951, Åland in 1979, and Greenland in 1991.

The Norden Association promotes closer Nordic co-operation, open borders in the region and a deeper sense of cultural affinity. It also strives to raise popular awareness of the successful co-operation that already exists in the region. This is achieved by spreading information about language, culture, and social conditions in the Nordic countries and by providing support to networks of individuals, families, schools, associations, local authorities, and companies, etc.

Other important tasks include maintaining close contact with decision-makers and proposing and offering inspiration for new initiatives on Nordic issues. One of the biggest challenges is abolishing the remaining obstacles to cross-border freedom of movement in the Nordic Region.