Speakers of parliament from the Nordic-Baltic Eight regional format met with Armenian parliamentary leaders in Yerevan on January 23 to discuss democratic reforms, regional stability, and Armenia’s European Union integration process.
Nordic-Baltic Parliamentary Delegation Reaffirms Support in Yerevan
A high-level delegation representing the Nordic-Baltic Eight travelled to Armenia to meet with the Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia, Alen Simonyan. The regional co-operation format brings together legislative leaders and officials from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden established their regional cooperation format in 1992, after the end of the cold war, with regular meetings of prime ministers, parliamentary speakers, foreign and defence ministers and senior government officials.
The group began as a forum for wealthy, stable Nordic countries to rebuild bridges with Baltic neighbours with whom they had traded and exchanged for centuries but who had been trapped behind the iron curtain under Soviet rule since the second world war. The group’s salience has grown in the new geopolitical era of great-power rivalry in which the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea have once again become strategically contested zones.
During the January 23 meetings, the visiting parliamentary leaders expressed unconditional support for Armenia’s territorial integrity and praised the country’s ongoing efforts to secure lasting peace in the region. The delegation also signalled readiness to back the country’s formal steps toward European integration. Simonyan thanked the visiting officials for their solidarity with the nation’s democratic transition.
Alen Simonyan, Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia
On behalf of the National Assembly of Armenia, I highly appreciate the visit of all delegations to support our young democracy,
Simonyan said, adding that Armenia values its relationships with each of the NB8 countries.
Simonyan noted that Armenia values its bilateral relationships with each member of the NB8 group. Armenia remains committed to democratic reforms, which has significant importance for advancing sustainable development, good governance, rule of law and human rights, the Speaker said during the discussions, expressing gratitude for continuous international assistance.
Armenia remains committed to democratic reforms, which has significant importance for advancing sustainable development, good governance, rule of law and human rights. We are grateful for your continuous support to our reforms,
the Speaker said.
Legislative Leaders Driving the Regional Format
The visiting delegation comprised senior legislative figures from across northern Europe. The roster included Estonia’s President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, Latvia’s Speaker of the Saeima Daiga Mieriņa, Finland’s Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho, Norway’s President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani, Denmark’s Deputy Speaker of the Folketing Karsten Hønge, Lithuania’s First Deputy Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas, and Sweden’s First Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag Kenneth G. Forslund and other officials.
Speaker Simonyan thanked the delegation for the visit, highlighting its importance for the country. The NB8 framework itself originates from a post-Cold War alignment established in 1992, uniting northern European states that individually carry limited international weight but wield substantial diplomatic leverage as a pressure group for western resolve. While the grouping initially served to rebuild institutional bridges with Baltic neighbours emerging from Soviet rule, its mission has expanded amid modern geopolitical competition across the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic, and the Arctic.
Known as the Nordic-Baltic eight (NB8 in diplomatic jargon), it brings together small northern European states that, individually, might have little clout in international security and politics. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, they have wielded growing influence as a pressure group for western resolve, offering an attractive blend of democratic security, defence integration and societal resilience.
Expanding Diplomatic Reach From Regional Security to Global Partners
While countries like Norway and Iceland operate outside the European Union, the broader alliance coordinates its foreign policy stances before major international gatherings and maintains joint diplomatic infrastructure, such as a shared embassy complex and cultural centre in Berlin, capital of Europe’s biggest economy.
The NB8 members regularly caucus before Nato and EU meetings – although Norway and Iceland are not EU members – and coordinate their diplomacy worldwide. Symbolically, the Nordic five share an embassy complex and cultural centre in Berlin, capital of Europe’s biggest economy.
Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk and Icelandic President Hadla Thomasdóttir discussed the situation in Ukraine and security challenges during an official parliamentary visit to Iceland. Stefanchuk emphasized the necessity of maintaining pressure on Russia and preserving allied unity.
As previously reported, Stefanchuk is on an official visit to Iceland. He expressed gratitude to Iceland for its stance and willingness to continue standing by Ukraine.
I am convinced that this visit and our meetings will inject new momentum into Ukrainian-Icelandic relations,
the chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament said.
“We discussed the situation in Ukraine, security challenges, and continued support for our country. I emphasized the importance of maintaining unity among partners, increasing pressure on Russia, and working together to achieve a just and lasting peace,” Stefanchuk said on Facebook on Thursday.
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