{{For|the English regional policy|Northern Powerhouse}} {{Update|date=April 2025}} {{Distinguish|Northern Dimension}} thumbnail|right|Opening session of the Riga meeting 2013 '''Northern Future Forum''' is an annual,<ref>{{cite web|title=SWEDEN: Stockholm hosts Northern Future Forum, an annual summit of Nordic, Baltic and British leaders|url=http://www.itnsource.com/en/shotlist/RTV/2012/02/11/RTV442812/|publisher=ITN|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> informal meeting of prime ministers, policy innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the 9 nations of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|title=UK NORDIC BALTIC SUMMIT London 2011: About the Summit|url=http://uknordicbaltic.readandcomment.com/introduction/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130061915/http://uknordicbaltic.readandcomment.com/introduction/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 January 2011|publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> Initially referred to as the '''UK Nordic Baltic Summit''', the name Northern Future Forum was introduced at the second meeting in Stockholm, 2012. The group had a period of abeyance since the Stavanger meeting in 2016 was postponed following the outcome of the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, and David Cameron subsequently stepping down as UK prime minister, to be succeeded by Theresa May. The summit was reconvened in October 2018 in Oslo.

Former Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt first suggested that the UK and Nordic-Baltic Eight nations have a summit during his November 2010 visit to the UK,<ref>{{cite web|title=Downing St's Viking invasion|url=https://www.ft.com/content/bdf9161e-1f6d-11e0-87ca-00144feab49a|publisher=Financial Times|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> following the UK general election in May and David Cameron becoming prime minister of the UK coalition government.

==Summits== The Northern Future Forum was established to be a more relaxed meeting than usual international summits, with more of a collegiate atmosphere where leaders are encouraged to learn and interact with experts in the topics under discussion, rather than delivering set-piece speeches or engaging in behind-the-scenes trading.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maxwell|first=Liam|title=The Northern Future Forum|url=http://digital.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/2013/03/07/nff/|access-date=18 April 2013|newspaper=UK Government Digital Service Blog|date=7 March 2013}}</ref> Described in a press release from Erna Solberg announcing the 2016 meeting in Norway as ‘[The] NFF is a little unusual, but very exciting meeting place for us politicians. In this concept, we get a different insights into innovative trends, presented by today's experts and entrepreneurs, who in different ways are building what is our common future’<ref name="Stavanger">{{cite news|title=Internasjonal prestisje-konferanse med 9 statsministre til Stavanger! - Nyhetsbrev 3 - 2016 - Nyhetsbrev 2016 - Nyhetsbrev - Media - Region Stavanger|url=http://www.regionstavanger.com/no/Media/Nyhetsbrev/Nyhetsbrev-2016/Nyhetsbrev-3-2016/Internasjonal-prestisje-konferanse-med-9-statsministre-til-Stavanger-/|access-date=11 July 2016|work=www.regionstavanger.com|publisher=Stavanger Region|language=no}}</ref>

===London 2011=== thumb|right|UK Nordic Baltic Summit On the 19–20 January London hosted the inaugural UK-Nordic-Baltic meeting at Whitechapel Gallery in the East End of London.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Paul|title=Reaching the summit|url=http://www.thelocal.se/blogs/diplomaticdispatch/2011/01/24/reaching-the-summit/|access-date=30 May 2013|newspaper=The British Ambassador to Sweden blogs on The Local|date=24 January 2011}}</ref> The first summit hosted 120 participants<ref name="baltic" >{{cite web|title=UK-Nordic-Baltic Summit to form new "alliance"|url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/27816/|publisher=Baltic Times|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> and touched on themes of improving business ties in the region, with a focus on low carbon and high-tech industries. Other topics included how best to foster equality, wellbeing and competitiveness during the Great Recession.

*Technology and Innovation *Jobs, Family and Gender Equality *Green Economy and Sustainable Business

The British Prime Minister, David Cameron ended the first summit calling for a new alliance of Northern European nations.<ref name="baltic" />

===Stockholm 2012=== The second summit on the 8–9 February, was hosted in Stockholm. The second meeting saw the name changed to the "Northern Future Forum". The event was hosted in Fotografiska, The Swedish Museum of Photography, in the Södermalm district of the city.<ref>{{cite news|title=SWEDEN: Stockholm hosts Northern Future Forum, an annual summit of Nordic, Baltic and British leaders|url=http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/RTV/2012/02/11/RTV442812/|access-date=19 September 2012|newspaper=ITN source|date=11 February 2012}}</ref>

Conference topics intended to focus on long-term sustainable growth<ref>{{cite web|title=About Northern Future Forum 2012|url=http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/15274/a/179557|publisher=sweden.gov.se|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> were: *How do we get more women into top positions and more women entrepreneurs? *How do we get senior citizens to stay longer in the labour force?

===Riga 2013=== The third summit was held on February 27–28, 2013 in Riga, Latvia.<ref>{{cite web|title="Northern Future Forum 2013" to take place in Riga|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/forums/?doc=54303|publisher=The Baltic Course|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> The opening and closing plenary were held in the Latvian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design with discussions and a media centre at Hotel Konventa sēta.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northern future forum 2013, Google Map locations|url=https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203065216385919240067.0004d5acc883c8936addb&msa=0|publisher=futureforum2013.gov.lv/en/|access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref>

At the Stockholm 2012 meeting the Latvian prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis had proposed that Riga could host the next forum meeting, which was supported by the other members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Next Year's Northern Future Forum to be Held in Rīga|url=http://www.today.lv/next-year’s-northern-future-forum-to-be-held-in-riga/|publisher=Latvia Today|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In 2013, the "Northern Future Forum" will be held in Rīga|url=http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2012/1/020212pm03/|publisher=The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref>

Two main issues chosen for the Forum: * Can the green economy be competitive? * Addressing the digital divide in society<ref>{{cite web|title=Topics for the Northern Future Forum|url=http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en/about-nff/topics-for-the-forum|publisher=2013 Northern Future Forum|access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref>

The Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, was unable to attend due to domestic political reasons, and was represented by Olli-Pekka Heinonen, state secretary to the PM’s bureau, and state secretary to the Finnish Economy and Employment Ministry Marja Rislakki. The British PM David Cameron returned to his country shortly after the opening plenary meetings, replaced by Planning Minister Nick Boles. David Cameron met with Latvian PM Valdis Dombrovskis the evening before the forum opening in order to discuss Latvia and the UK’s bilateral relations, including economic cooperation and problems within the EU.<ref>{{cite news|title=Northern Future Forum in Riga to gather representatives of nine countries|url=http://bnn-news.com/northern-future-forum-riga-gather-representatives-countries-89164|access-date=24 May 2013|newspaper=Baltic News Network|date=26 February 2013}}</ref>

===Helsinki 2014=== At the closing plenary in Riga 2013, Marja Rislakki, State Secretary of the Ministry of Employment and Economy of Finland made a proposal to hold the Northern Future Forum 2014 in Helsinki, Finland.<ref>{{cite web|title=V.Dombrovskis: "Findings of the Northern Future Forum should be implemented in Latvia, as well as in the EU"|url=http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2013/february/010313-mp-01/|publisher=The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia|access-date=7 March 2013}}</ref> The NFF convened in Helsinki during 6–7 November 2014 at the Startup Sauna business accelerator of Aalto University's Otaniemi campus.<ref>{{cite news|last=Clerc|first=Louis|title=Northern Future Forum: Uniscan Reborn?|url=http://www.utu.fi/en/sites/europeanstudies/blog/Pages/Uniscan-Reborn.aspx|access-date=17 May 2014|newspaper=University of Turku|date=28 April 2014}}</ref><ref name="Stubb">{{cite news|title=Prime Minister Alexander Stubb to host Northern Future Forum in Helsinki|url=http://vnk.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/en.jsp?oid=425210|access-date=11 October 2014|publisher=Finnish Prime Minister's Office|date=19 September 2014}}</ref> The discussion themes of the 2014 meeting were:<ref name="Stubb"/> *Competitiveness of education systems *Promotion of innovative business activity.

===Reykjavik 2015=== At the Helsinki meeting the Prime Minister of Iceland Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson invited delegates to Reykjavik for the next Northern Future Forum.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kolyako|first1=Nina|title=Latvian and Nordic PMs discussed the promotion of innovative entrepreneurship|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/markets_and_companies/?doc=98708|access-date=11 November 2014|publisher=Baltic Course|date=10 November 2014}}</ref> The meeting was held on 28–29 October at the University of Iceland,<ref>{{cite news|title=Nine Prime Ministers discuss creative industries and public sector innovation at Northern Future Forum in Reykjavik|url=http://www.mfa.is/news-and-publications/nr/8508|access-date=15 October 2015|publisher=Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs|date=12 October 2015}}</ref> being held in continuation of the 67 session of the Nordic Council in Reykjavik.<ref>{{cite news|title=NORTHERN FUTURE FORUM 2015 HOSTED BY PRIME MINISTER OF ICELAND, SIGMUNDUR DAVÍÐ GUNNLAUGSSON|url=http://nff2015.is/press/|access-date=15 October 2015|publisher=Northern Future Forum Reykjavik 2015}}</ref> Themes for this year's meeting were: *The importance of creative industries *Innovation as a catalyst for change in the way public service is run.

Attending the forum British Prime Minister David Cameron became the first British Premier to officially visit Iceland since it became a republic in 1944, the last being Winston Churchill in August 1941, over 70 years previously.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hafstad|first1=Vala|title=Cameron Is Coming|url=http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/10/12/cameron-coming|access-date=25 October 2015|publisher=Iceland Review|date=12 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=British PM on official visit to Iceland|url=http://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2015/10/12/british_pm_on_official_visit_to_iceland/|access-date=28 October 2015|publisher=Iceland Monitor|date=13 October 2015}}</ref>

===Oslo 2018=== In 2018, the Northern Future Forum was held on the 29–30 October at the Oslo Cancer Cluster, replacing the postponed 2016 meeting.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seks statsministre samlet i Oslo for å diskutere helseteknologi |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/ni-statsministre-samlet-i-oslo-for-a-diskutere-helseteknologi/id2617379/ |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=Regjeringen.no |date=30 October 2018 |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/opening-of-northern-future-forum/id2617375/|title=Opening of Northern Future Forum 2018|first=Prime Minister Erna|last=Solberg|date=30 October 2018|website=Government.no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/article/-/asset_publisher/10616/paaministeri-sipila-osallistui-oslossa-pohjoismaisiin-kokouksiin-ja-northern-future-forumiin|title=Prime Minister Sipilä attends Nordic meetings and Northern Future Forum in Oslo|website=Valtioneuvosto}}</ref>

The 2016 Northern Future Forum was due to be held in Stavanger on 26–27 October 2016,<ref>{{cite news|title=Cameron-konferanse legges til Stavanger|url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/energi/Britisk-nordisk-kjempekonferanse-legges-til-Stavanger-3908103.html|access-date=7 July 2016|publisher=Stavanger Aftenbladet|date=14 April 2016|language=no}}</ref> though was initially stated to be postponed to an unknown future date, following David Cameron's resignation as British Prime Minister after the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and Theresa May's appointment as UK Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Solberg|first1=Erna|title=Britain – a close friend and a good partner|url=https://erna.no/2016/07/13/britain-a-close-friend-and-a-good-partner/|access-date=20 July 2016|work=Erna Solbergs blogg|date=13 July 2016}}</ref> Themes for the forum were to include:<ref name="Stavanger"/> *How innovation and new technology can contribute to economic development. *How a sharing economy can affect the labour market.

==Commentary== Media commentary as to wider implications of the Northern Future Forum have been varied, with the Swedish press being quite skeptical during the second meeting in Stockholm. The Local (Sweden) stated that the ‘meeting might have a longer-term strategic purpose, at least for British Prime Minister David Cameron: to forge a long-term alliance between the Northern European countries,’<ref name="Local" >{{cite web|title=Brits in Sweden to forge northern alliance: paper|url=http://www.thelocal.se/39024/20120209/|publisher=The Local|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> and writing that there appeared to be a ''"risk that David Cameron wants the northern partnership to challenge Brussels."''<ref name="Local" />

The pro-EU liberal Dagens Nyheter suggested: ‘Behind the scenes, this “Northern Alliance” will also debate ways to frustrate a “French model” for the European economy.’<ref>{{cite web|title=Cameron flies to Stockholm to strengthen alliance|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7b34b72e-5276-11e1-ae2c-00144feabdc0|publisher=Financial Times|access-date=18 April 2012}}</ref> A Dagens Nyheter Editorial described the second assembly as a ''"meeting with risks",'' seeing it as being potentially divisive within the EU.<ref>{{cite web|title=Möte med risker|date=9 February 2012 |url=https://www.dn.se/ledare/huvudledare/mote-med-risker/|publisher=Dagens Nyheter|access-date=18 April 2012|language=sv}}</ref>

The Baltic Times saw the forum as a mirror to the Mediterranean Union proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy<ref name="baltic" /> with Nouvelle-Europe comparing it to other groupings of EU members such as the Visegrád Group.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kreilinger|first=Valentin|title=Why Nordic countries are a cornerstone of British foreign policy|url=http://www.nouvelle-europe.eu/node/1019|access-date=19 September 2012|newspaper=Nouvelle Europe [en ligne]|date=2011-02-16}}</ref>

The Lithuania Tribune noted that the forum is unique as a pan-European meeting in that there are no negotiations, and no conditional agreements reached during the event.<ref name="Rydstrom" >{{cite news|last=Rydström|first=Fredrik|title=The Northern Future Forum: a peripheral affair or an important international event?|url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/2012/02/19/the-northern-future-forum-a-peripheral-affair-or-an-important-international-event/|access-date=19 September 2012|newspaper=Lithuania Tribune|date=19 February 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629194812/http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/2012/02/19/the-northern-future-forum-a-peripheral-affair-or-an-important-international-event/|archive-date=29 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Stating that given the contemporary European sovereign-debt crisis the discussion topics at the Stockholm meeting rendered the group a rather peripheral event. However, the article also suggested that the informal nature of the forum raised an antidote to increasing mistrust between European nations in the wake of the eurozone crisis.<ref name="Rydstrom" />

The initial founding of the group in 2011 met with some trepidation among the Russian media, fearing the group could amount to an ‘Arctic branch of NATO’, which may act to ease the accession of neutral Finland and Sweden into the alliance.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Balmasov|first1=Sergei|title=Arctic NATO to watch the Russians|url=http://english.pravda.ru/world/europe/20-01-2011/116584-arctic_nato-0/#|access-date=3 April 2015|publisher=Pravda|date=10 January 2011}}</ref>

==See also== *Brexit *Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries *Craiova Group *Digital Nations *Nordic-Baltic Eight *Northern Europe, UN region of Europe which covers a broadly similar geographic area. *Porvoo Communion *Three Seas Initiative *Joint Expeditionary Force *Visegrád Group

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110120113326/http://uknordicbaltic.readandcomment.com/ FCO Archive, Nordic Baltic Summit 2011] *[http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/uk-hosts-nordic-baltic-summit/ Number 10 archive] *[http://www.sweden.gov.se/nff Government Offices of Sweden archive] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130301194011/http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en/ Official homepage of the 2013 Riga Northern Future Forum] *[http://nff2014.government.fi/home Official homepage of the 2014 Helsinki Northern Future Forum] *[http://nff2015.is/ Official homepage of the 2015 Reykjavik Northern Future Forum]

Category:Political conferences Category:Politics of Europe Category:Bottom-up regional groups within the European Union