ABSTRACT
The Nordic countries have strong links with each other, economically and politically. They co-ordinate their policies by means of the Nordic Council, formed in 1952, which has resulted in the harmonisation of regulations and a free labour market. They also to some extent act in a collective fashion in international bodies, although their membership of various supranational bodies varies. Thus Denmark, Iceland and Norway have been members of NATO since 1949. Norway and Iceland are not members of the EU, though they are in the European Economic Area (EEA) with the EU.
