UK-Nordic-Baltic Summit to form new "alliance"

Jan 21, 2011
TBT Staff

The summit was aimed at building ties among the northern European countries. (Photo: Saeima).

LONDON - With the first UK-Nordic-Baltic Summit coming to a close, the prime ministers of the UK, the Baltic states and the five Scandinavian countries has seen the British prime minister calling for a new "alliance" of Northern European countries.

“I want to see action on economic reform by Europe as a whole on trade, regulation, single market, on innovation but I believe that UK, Nordic and Baltic countries can be the avant-garde and be in the guardsmen in delivering jobs and growth,” Cameron said at the news conference after the meeting.

Andrus Ansip from Estonia, Valdis Dombrovskis from Latvia and Andrius Kubilius from Lithuania joined the prime ministers of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland. The summit hosted 120 participants, including Prime Ministers, high-level officials, representatives of the civil society and business leaders.

The summit sought to improve business ties in the region, with a focus on low carbon and high-tech industries. Other goals include how best to foster equality, wellbeing and competitiveness in the current economic climate.

A press release from the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers praised the summit, saying it "gives ample opportunities to freely exchange views on overcoming the economic crisis and the importance of innovations and green economy in restoration of the economy."

The meeting, which lasted from Wednesday to Friday, has been hailed for its "informal" approach and its results-oriented format.

The summit mirrors earlier attempts spearheaded by France to create a Mediterranean alliance.

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