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On 4 September, Vilnius will host the Nordic Baltic Eight (NB8) Foreign Ministers’ meeting, as Lithuania is coordinating the Baltic-Nordic cooperation agenda this year.

The ministers are expected to discuss prospects of cooperation in the Nordic and Baltic region, important issues related to the Eastern Partnership countries and the situation in the Middle East, the euro zone, disarmament and other relevant issues of the international policy. The ministers will also review the results achieved this year implementing the roadmap that was drawn up by an expert group in 2010, aiming to promote efficient cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries.

 In 2012, the Nordic and Baltic countries implemented a number of measures, aimed at developing closer relations in the region. NB8 diplomatic representations’ data base was created to promote diplomatic exchange. As a result some countries already share their diplomatic premises with each other. Diplomats of the region visited Moldova together, where they reiterated support for the country’s EU integration aspirations.

This year Lithuania initiated a comprehensive presentation of the region on the internet and launched Foreign Ministry’s website, dedicated to the NB8 cooperation. In June, Vilnius hosted the international conference on gender equality and development cooperation.

This year saw preparatory work for the joint Nordic and Baltic nuclear safety exercise, which will take place in Finland in 2013. Cyber security and digital marketing experts from eight countries established contacts.

The Nordic Baltic Eight is an informal cooperation mechanism established by five Nordic countries and three Baltic States in 1992. The Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers’ meeting is held annually in the country that coordinates the NB8 cooperation agenda. The last ministerial meeting was held in Helsinki. In 2013, the event will take place in Sweden, as the country will take over the helm from Lithuania.

On 3 September, Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University will hold a Nordic-Baltic-U.S. academic meeting “Lights and Shadows in Northern Europe: security and identity patterns”.

The event of the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE) will bring together political science experts from NB8 countries and the U.S.

The e-PINE is a U.S. and NB8 cooperation initiative, officially launched in Washington, D.C., in 2003. The expert meeting is held annually in the country that coordinates the e-PINE activities.