Event

Saturday, 20th May 2023

Nostos II

Helsinki, Finland

Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
Kalastajatorpantie 00330
Helsinki, Finland

Nordic conservatism is in a renaissance, with new ideas and beliefs emerging to support the old. Chief amongst them is the debate over the foundations and fundamentals underpinning free society. Nordic countries are at the forefront of this debate over the balance of freedom and responsibility in both government and civil society – balancing the role of the state with that of the individual. For many, this freedom is under renewed pressure with the rise of a radical counter cultures in society.

Join us as we discuss what makes Nordic conservatism unique, and explore the cultural underpinnings of free society in Northern Europe.

Agenda

Saturday, 20th May

8:00

Registration

9:00

Welcome opening remarks

Witold d’Humilly de Chevilly - Executive Director of New Direction

9:10

Keynote

Päivi Räsänen MP - Former Minister of the Interior Finland

9:30

Panel #1

The Underpinnings of Free Society in Europe

Mahmoud Farahmand MP - Conservative Party Norway
Mikkel Bjørn Sørensen MP - Danish Peoples Party
Hardo Pajula - Economist
Robert Tyler - Senior Policy Advisor at New Direction (Moderator)

10:30

Coffee

10:50

Panel #2

Sovereignty, Security and a thriving society

Rihards Kols MP - National Alliance (Latvia) and chair of the Foreign Affairs committee
Anna Molberg MP - Conservative Party Norway
Christian Anton Smedshaug - Author - “Feeding the World in the 21st Century”
Alexander Christiansson MP - Swedish Democrats
Samuel Rapinoja de Carvalho - True Finns Youth Helsinki (Moderator)

11:50

Panel #3

Nordic Conservatism in a European Perspective

Hannes Gissurarson - Professor of Political Science
Jakob Söderbaum - Philosopher
Christian Egander Skov - Historian
Christian Anton Smedshaug - Author - “Feeding the World in the 21st Century”
Emma Webb - Common Sense Society (Moderator)

12:50

Lunch

14:00

Panel #4

Academic Freedom and the role of Education

Emma Webb - Common Sense Society
Frank Furedi - MCC Brussels
Ilmari Rostila - Finnish Association
Sturla Ellingvåg - Historian
Jarl Roar Simonsen - FAKS (Moderator)

15:00

Coffee

15:20

Panel #5

On Settling Together - Beauty And Civility Among Neighbours

Erik Norin - Sweden - Architect
Prof. Ferenc Hörcher - Academic
Marjo Uotila - Architect
Robert Kwolek - Architect
Haakon Teig - FAKS (Moderator)

16:20

Closing Speech

Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson MP - Former Prime Minister Iceland

19:00

Gala Dinner / Keynote

Alojz Peterle - Former Prime Minister Slovenia

Media

New Direction is registered in Belgium as a not-for-profit organisation and is partly funded by the European Parliament. The European Parliament and New Direction assume no responsibility for the opinions expressed in this publication. Sole responsibility lies with the individual authors.