The Swedish National Commission for UNESCO and co-operation between the Nordic countries
Co-operation between the Nordic countries has a long history inside and outside the UN system and the Nordic countries cooperation with UNESCO is no exception.
The Secretaries-General and Presidents of the Nordic countries National Commissions for UNESCO meet on a regular basis, they exchange information and work out joint proposals, suggestions etc.
Members of the National Commissions meet in preparation for the General Conference and discuss the coming program and budget, possible joint proposals for alterations of the proposed program and budget, common themes for oral interventions by their respective delegations to the General Conference etc.
To maximize the limited resources within the administration of the National Commissions they divide the over-all coordination of the fields of competence of UNESCO between them so that one country can focus on e g education or culture for a number of years.
At the General Conference many interventions are made on behalf of the entire group and have been discussed beforehand. During the General Conference the delegations of the Nordic countries meet twice weekly to share information and discuss.
The General Conference in 2003 accepted a Nordic proposal for reform of the organisation.