The Nordic bloc - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland - are increasingly refining a united position on the future of the EU.

Prime Minister Matti Vahnanen called for broader cooperation among Nordic countries. He said that Nordic countries will no longer be able to exert sufficient influence if they go it alone, but pointed out that the combined economies are significant enough to make a difference.
Vanhanen said he hoped to see joint efforts flourish in the areas of defence policy, forestry conservation and technological development, and he urged the leaders to speedily remove all obstacles to cooperation.