The Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - concluded a multilateral convention for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital in 1996. It entered into force in 1997 and became effective on 1 January 1998. The Nordic convention is based on the OECD Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital, but adapted for a multilateral format. There are also some substantial differences. This is the first article in a three-part series on the Nordic convention. This article discusses the general scope of the convention, looks at the general definitions in it, and considers the interpretation of the convention.