Northern Future Forum focuses on future education and novel businesses

Reports of the 4th Northern Future Forum, Helsinki, 6-7 November 2014. The Forum brings together the prime ministers of the Nordic countries, the Baltic states and the United Kingdom to discuss future trends in northern Europe. The 2014 seminar was hosted by Finland's Prime Minister Alexander Stubb.

The themes of the informal debates were means to support innovative business activities and improve the competitiveness of education systems.

However, the topic of the United Kingdom's tense relationship with the European Union dominated the headlines of the meeting. In particular, most of the countries seen as traditionally sympathetic to the United Kingdom, nevertheless argued that they did not agree with the UK refusal to pay the extra contribution to the EU that had been recently requested, and the UK's desire to restrict freedom of movement with the EU.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Cameron flies to Stockholm to strengthen alliance http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-flies-to-stockholm-to-strengthen-alliance/

Wikipedia: Northern Future Forum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Future_Forum

Latvia: Government: Northern Future Forum 2013 http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en/

BBC News, 07.11.14: Nordic PMs warn Cameron over EU immigration change http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29944564

Website: Northern Future Forum, Helsinki, 6-7 November 2014 http://nff2014.government.fi/

Reuters, 06.11.14: Finland's Stubb echoes Merkel on UK immigration curb plans http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/11/06/uk-britain-europe-finland-idUKKBN0IQ0WB20141106

ESO: Background information: UK exit better than restricting free movement, says German Chancellor http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-exit-better-than-restricting-free-movement-says-german-chancellor/

ESO: Background information: EU may offer Britain installment plan for disputed bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-may-offer-britain-installment-plan-for-disputed-bill/

The Guardian, 07.11.14: David Cameron says he will reject instalment plan for £1.7bn EU bill http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/nov/07/david-cameron-no-compromise-over-eu-demand

The Guardian, 07.11.14: Cameron plan to curb EU freedom of movement falls on closed ears http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/07/cameron-eu-freedom-of-movement-helsinki

The Guardian, 05.11.14: Finland warns of new cold war over failure to grasp situation in Russia http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/05/finland-warns-cold-war-russia-eu

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