New Hanseatic League

Summary:

Overview and information concerning a grouping of Member States of the European Union (EU) established in 2018 under the designation of New Hanseatic League (also known as Hansa or Hanseatic League 2.0).

Further information:

This grouping was established by the Finance Ministers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden through the signing of a foundational document. This document sets out the countries shared views on the architecture of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

The Hansa developed from ongoing cooperation among like-minded fiscally conservative northern European states, in the aftermath of the United Kingdom's decision to withdraw from the European Union. The so-called Frugal Four - grouping which became known in the framework of the negotiations for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 - comprise some of the Hansa members.

Official

Sweden: Ministry of Finance: Statement, 06/03/2018: Finance ministers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden underline their shared views and values in the discussion on the architecture of the EMU https://www.government.se/statements/2018/03/finance-ministers-from-denmark-estonia-finland-ireland-latvia-lithuania-the-netherlands-and-sweden/

Estonia: Finance Ministry: News, 06/03/2018: Shared views and values on the architecture of the EMU https://www.rahandusministeerium.ee/en/news/shared-views-and-values-architecture-emu

Sweden: Ministry of Finance: Statement, 18/07/2018: Shared views of the Finance Ministers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and The Netherlands about Capital Markets Union https://www.government.se/statements/2018/07/shared-views-of-the-finance-ministers-from-denmark-estonia-finland-ireland-latvia-lithuania-sweden-and-the-netherlands-about-capital-markets-union/

Ireland: Department of Finance: Press Release, 02/11/2018: ESM Reform – shared views of the finance ministers from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Slovakia https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/394603-esm-reform-shared-views-finance-ministers-czech-republic/

---

News

ERR News, 12/06/2018: Netherlands recruits Baltic states to compensate for effects of Brexit https://news.err.ee/838904/netherlands-recruits-baltic-states-to-compensate-for-effects-of-brexit

EurActiv, 02/11/2018: The euro ‘hawks’ want bigger say for crisis fund in cuts and reforms https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/the-euro-hawks-want-bigger-say-for-crisis-fund-in-cuts-and-reforms/

YLE News, 06/09/2019: Yle: Finland breaks with fiscally conservative EU group https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/yle_finland_breaks_with_fiscally_conservative_eu_group/10957660

---

Commentary and Analysis

Wikipedia: New Hanseatic League https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hanseatic_League

The Economist, 30/11/2013: The new Hanseatic League https://www.economist.com/europe/2013/11/30/the-new-hanseatic-league

Cligendael Spectator: Analysis, 09/07/2018: Why a New Hanseatic League will not be enough https://spectator.clingendael.org/en/publication/why-new-hanseatic-league-will-not-be-enough

Bloomberg, 06/11/2018: Italy Gets a Warning From the 14th Century https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-11-06/italy-gets-a-warning-from-the-14th-century

Chartered Accountants (Ireland): News, 03/12/2018: The New Hanseatic League https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/News/the-new-hanseatic-league

The Economist, 08/12/2018: Northern member states unite on euro-zone reform https://www.economist.com/europe/2018/12/08/northern-member-states-unite-on-euro-zone-reform

Spiegel Online International, 11/12/2018: The Sputtering German-French Motor https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/eurozone-reform-falls-victim-to-new-hanseatic-league-a-1242986.html

The Brussels Times, 12/12/2018: A ‘‘Hanseatic’’ success? The Dutch job in blocking Eurozone reform https://www.brusselstimes.com/opinion/52465/a-hanseatic-success-the-dutch-job-in-blocking-eurozone-reform/

The Conversation, 04/01/2019: The euro at 20: An enduring success but a fundamental failure https://theconversation.com/the-euro-at-20-an-enduring-success-but-a-fundamental-failure-108149

EUObserver, 22/01/2019: What is fate of non-euro EU states after Brexit? https://euobserver.com/opinion/143962

IPS Journal, 28/05/2020: Finland’s new-found commitment to the European project https://www.ips-journal.eu/regions/europe/article/show/finlands-new-found-commitment-to-the-european-project-4392/

---

ESO Records

The Nordic-Baltic region in the EU: A loose club of friends https://www.europeansources.info/record/the-nordic-baltic-region-in-the-eu-a-loose-club-of-friends/

The Nordic-Baltic Region in the EU 27 – Time for New Strategic Cooperation https://www.europeansources.info/record/the-nordic-baltic-region-in-the-eu-27-time-for-new-strategic-cooperation/

Hansa 2.0 – A Return to the Golden Age of trade? https://www.europeansources.info/record/hansa-2-0-a-return-to-the-golden-age-of-trade/

Contending European Views on a New Post-Brexit Balance https://www.europeansources.info/record/contending-european-views-on-a-new-post-brexit-balance/

---