The Europe Forum held in Turku will again bring together experts, decision-makers and citizens to reflect on the future of Europe, at the Turku City Theatre from 27 to 29 August. The Europe Forum Speakers’ Corner public event will be held in Hansakortteli, on Thursday 28 August from 14:00 to 18:00.
The Europe Forum’s confirmed speakers offer versatile and topical perspectives on the future of Europe. The discussions will focus on issues such as security, sustainability, the competitiveness of the EU and Finland’s 30-year EU membership, which will be examined from several perspectives, as Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen are among the speakers.
The opening ceremony of the Europe Forum will include the speech of Antti Lindtman, the Chairperson of the Social Democratic Party. The participation of the Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Joakim Strand will bring a ministerial perspective to the discussions on the future direction of Europe.
Economic policy perspectives at the Europe Forum are presented by Esko Antola Lecturer Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland. Other confirmed names include the former Commissioner and Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen, Member of Parliament Pekka Haavisto, Counselor of State, former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, and the long-term MEP and former Vice-President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala. Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, will discuss the role of the EU in the changing international order.
Perspectives from MEPs, international speakers and young people
The current perspectives of the European Parliament are brought to the discussion by a large number of MEPs, such as Mika Aaltola, Li Andersson, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Eero Heinäluoma, Elsi Katainen, Ville Niinistö, Aura Salla and Jussi Saramo. Among the international speakers are, for example, Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl and Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director of European Centre for International Political Economy and a distinguished economic expert.
Discussions aimed at young people in particular at the Forum are organised by JEF Finland and Turku Student Unions TYY and ÅAS, whose programmes focus on education in Europe.
Speakers’ Corner public event brings the European debate to Hansatori
This year, the Europe Forum also extends strongly to the cityspace: The public event Speakers’ Corner, open to everyone, will be held on Thursday 28 August from 14:00 to 18:00. In the event, MEPs Li Andersson, Mika Aaltola, Sebastian Tynkkynen and Aura Salla will share their thoughts. The former Commissioner and Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen will also take part in the discussion.
The event is aimed at the general public and provides young listeners, in particular, with an easily approachable way of participating in social debate on the future of Europe. For example, EU career is discussed, and EU Youth Delegate Alma Jokinen talks about societal influence from a young person’s perspective.
Also on stage will be Mayor of Turku Piia Elo, as well as Deputy Mayors Sini Ruohonen, Elina Rantanen and Mirka Muukkonen. They will participate in a joint interview on the theme “Turku in Europe”. The moderator of the event will be Markku Jokisipilä, Head of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies at the University of Turku.
The event is open to everyone and free of charge, and no advance registration is required.
Registration is open – attend the event on site or online
The Europe Forum is open to everyone and free of charge and can be attended either on site in Turku or by following the programme live online. The Speakers’ Corner public event does not require registration.
The discussions can also be followed online without prior registration, as all parts of the Europe Forum programme can be viewed in real time on the event website www.europeforum.fi. The Finnish and Swedish parts of the programme will be simultaneously interpreted into English.
More detailed information on the event programme and speakers can be found on the Europe Forum website.
Ensure your place at the Europe Forum and register now!
