Northern Europe Office

The Northern Europe Office of the Atlantic Council opened in Stockholm in the fall of 2016 as part of the Future Europe Initiative. This office has expanded the Council’s presence and serves as an important and consistent extension of the Council into the region.

The Northern Europe office works in particular on forging a strong US-Northern Europe agenda in light of the reinvigorated transatlantic relationship that has resulted from Finland’s accession into NATO and Sweden’s bid for membership. The office, headed by Anna Wieslander, participates in the public debate, provides analysis and publications, and arranges workshops, seminars, and conferences that bring together policymakers and a diverse group of stakeholders in order to forge solutions that address challenges critical to the future of Europe and the transatlantic relationship.

Featured commentary and analysis

Northern Europe Office

New Atlanticist Apr 26, 2023

A glimpse of Sweden in NATO: Gotland could be a game-changer for Baltic defense

By Anna Wieslander and Eric Adamson

Sweden’s largest military exercise in twenty-five years highlights the strategically important island of Gotland in defending NATO allies.
Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security
Northern Europe Office

New Atlanticist Feb 7, 2023

What would happen if Sweden and Finland split up their NATO bids?

By Eric Adamson and Minna Ålander

Finland proceeding without Sweden should be a last resort because of all the strategic and logistical difficulties it would create.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
Northern Europe Office

Issue Brief Jan 6, 2023

How allied Sweden and Finland can secure Northern Europe 

By Anna Wieslander, Eric Adamson, Jesper Lehto

NATO is approaching its ninth round of enlargement. The accession of Sweden and Finland—two solid democracies and defenders of the international-rules based order—into the Alliance will strengthen the core of the transatlantic community.
Defense Policy NATO

Featured media mentions

January 31, 2023

Wieslander in Financial Times on potential solo Finnish NATO accession

“The focus now is to calm down the situation,” said Anna Wieslander, director for northern Europe at the Atlantic Council think-tank. “Swedish policymakers are still quite confident that Turkey will ratify . . . in the end, but they also realise that the road will continue to be bumpy.”

January 14, 2023

Wieslander in Le Monde on Sweden-Turkey NATO negotiations

Anna Wieslander believes that Stockholm and Helsinki had no other choice, but that the ball is now in Turkey’s court: “Sweden has gone as far as it could, even if the negotiations continue, the pressure will have to come from the other member states.”
January 12, 2023

Stockholm report quoted in Helsinge Sanomat

The Atlantic Council report “How allied Sweden and Finland can Secure Northern Europe” was featured in Finland’s largest newspaper “Helsinge Sanomat.”

Voices from the North Podcast

In this four-part podcast series, Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe in Stockholm, brings forth voices and perspectives of those studying and most affected by a changing Arctic. This podcast is part of a project made possible by the generous support of the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. 

Northern Europe Office

Podcast Apr 22, 2022

Episode 1: “Living in the Arctic”

Anu Fredriksson, Executive Director for Arctic Frontiers, gives a local perspective on living in the Arctic. Anu is originally from Oulu in Northern Finland and has worked with Arctic issues for over a decade.
Climate Change & Climate Action Crisis Management
Northern Europe Office

Podcast Apr 22, 2022

Episode 2: “Russia and the Arctic”

Mathieu Boulègue, Senior Research Fellow for the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, takes a closer look at Russia’s deep ties to the Arctic and its posturing in the region.
Climate Change & Climate Action Crisis Management
More episodes

Experts

Staff

Anna Wieslander

Director, Northern Europe

Europe Center

Defense Policy Disinformation

All content

In the News

Aug 26, 2020

Wieslander joins Swedish Radio to discuss military escalation around the Baltic Sea
Europe & Eurasia Northern Europe

In the News

Aug 26, 2020

Wieslander joins Radio Sweden to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the Baltic Sea
Europe & Eurasia Northern Europe

Event Recap

Jun 16, 2020

European Leadership and the Corona Crisis: Geopolitical Effects on Northern Europe

On June 15, 2020, the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Nordic Office, organized a seminar on the topic of ”European Leadership and the Corona Crisis: Geopolitical Effects on Northern Europe”. The public seminar was attended by experts from all around Europe, representing parliaments, governmental institutions, political parties, think-tanks and […]

Coronavirus Europe & Eurasia

Event Recap

May 29, 2020

Evolving through crisis: European leadership in the light of COVID-19

By Elin Schiffer

The Atlantic Council's Northern Europe office convened a seminar on lessons learned from the early phases of the pandemic for European and transatlantic leadership.

Coronavirus Economy & Business
Public Event Wed, April 29, 2020 • 7:00 am ET

Sweden and the COVID-19 pandemic, transatlantic relations, and the Baltic Sea region
Coronavirus European Union Maritime Security Northern Europe
Public Event Wed, March 4, 2020 • 10:30 am ET

Completing Europe: Central Europe, the Three Seas Initiative and the future of the transatlantic relationship
Central Europe Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia European Union

Event Recap

Oct 8, 2019

Securing Northern Europe

On September 20, 2019, the Atlantic Council Northern Europe organized a seminar highlighting the launch of a new issue brief titled ‘Securing Northern Europe: Toward A Comprehensive Approach’. Director for Northern Europe Anna Wieslander and Project Assistant Elin Schiffer presented the report for an audience consisting of invited members of parliament, civil servants, foreign diplomats […]

Northern Europe
Wed, July 10, 2019 • 8:45 am ET

The US-Latvian relationship in a time of European transition
Northern Europe

Event Recap

Mar 28, 2019

Seminar on fighting disinformation by democratic means

By Atlantic Council

The seminar brought together journalists, academic experts, civil society and representatives of government and organizations to discuss the challenge presented by disinformation and different ways to improve resilience ahead of a string of elections in Europe during 2019.

Disinformation Northern Europe

Event Recap

Feb 19, 2019

Seminar: Disinformation in electoral contexts

By Elin Schiffer

On February 19, 2019, the Atlantic Council in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden in Vilnius organized a seminar on the threats of disinformation in electoral contexts. Information influence campaigns presenting challenges or threats to public elections are an increasing concern in Sweden, Lithuania and the rest of the EU. Sweden and Lithuania, both being […]

Disinformation European Union
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