I attended a two-day meeting in Norway on 3 & 4 November 2023, arriving the day before & departing the day after. The meeting included representatives from all the Nordic countries, & I took the opportunity to urge them to consider joining RTDE. Spain was also represented by Javier Velasco.

Outcomes of the Meeting

Despite my best efforts, my plea was largely unconvincing. None of the Nordic countries, nor Spain, saw any significant value in becoming a member of RTDE. The primary reason for this reluctance seems to be the perceived lack of impact that membership would have on their individual efforts to legalize MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) within their own countries. For instance, I discovered that the Danish political system was unaware that MAID had been legalized in Spain, highlighting their indifference to developments outside their borders.

I tried to emphasize the importance of our NGO status, but my arguments had little effect. There is a general consensus among these nations that no European government would ever accept external directives on such a sensitive issue from any entity outside their own parliaments. Additionally, the rules & system governing NGO status appear to be so complex & opaque that they further discourage interest in RTDE membership.

I acknowledged their concerns, noting that the benefits of NGO status can indeed seem like manoeuvring a bulk tanker—slow, difficult to steer, & requiring a long time to reach the desired outcome. However, I also stressed that we are investing time in lobbying the right connections, & that tangible results will eventually follow. I plan to delve deeper into this topic at the Dublin meeting, & I hope to have Simon Matthijssen’s support in articulating why being an approved NGO is ultimately beneficial.

Looking Ahead

The Nordic representatives seem content with their small, regional network as a subsidiary to the WFRTDS &, from their short-term perspective, they see no justification for the financial commitment to RTDE. I will be meeting with the Nordic group again in Finland from 26 to 29 September, just after the Dublin meeting. My goal is to convince them, along with others in Dublin, to reconsider their stance & to see the long-term value in proceeding with RTDE membership.

Flemming Schollaart