The Europe Forum is a national discussion forum arising from cooperation between NGOs and the public authorities. This year, besides NGOs, young people will also be featured strongly in the programme.

‘We will be looking for a direction for Europe towards the end of the summer, when the traditional Europe Forum will discuss the direction of politics and finances in Turku. The direction of Europe is also an important dimension in the development of Finland, and we have the ability to influence matters as active citizens of this European constitutional state. Come and join us!’ urges Chair of Europe Forum Turku Anders Blom (DPolSc).

Thursday 27 August will feature discussion on science, the economy and the Green Deal

On the economy and science day of Europe Forum Turku, the forum will examine the impacts of the Green Deal in particular. The individuals who will be speaking and discussing in the programme segments include MEPs Ville Niinistö, Elsi Katainen, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Mauri Pekkarinen and Henna Virkkunen, Chair of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) Juha Marttila, Professor of Practice Vesa Vihriälä, Chair of European Movement Finland Ville Kaunisto, Chief Policy Adviser in EU Affairs at the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) Janica Ylikarjula, Head of International Affairs at the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava) Markus Penttinen, Managing Director of the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce Jan Feller, Managing Director of Finance Finland Piia-Noora Kauppi, CEO of Technology Industries of Finland Jaakko Hirvola and CEO of DNA Jukka Leinonen, among others.

In addition to topics related to the Green Deal, Thursday’s programme will include the EU Youth Conference and an MEP panel discussion.

On Friday 27 August, politics will meet science

The forum’s programme for Friday will particularly examine Finland’s 25-year journey in the EU and also look towards the future: what kind of Europe does Finland want? Other topics of discussion will include democracy, decision-making and unity under emergency conditions; European defence cooperation and immigration policy; challenges in the relations between Finland, the EU and Russia; and cities in post-coronavirus Europe.

Friday’s events will also include the generational ‘25-year debate over Finland and Europe’ by European Movement Finland, the summary session of the EU Youth Conference, which will feature speakers such as European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, and a great debate between European commissioners. In this debate, European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen will be exchanging thoughts with former European Commissioners Jyrki Katainen and Erkki Liikanen.

The programme will also feature a seminar on foreign and security policy titled ‘Is the EU able to guarantee the external security of its Member States?’, which will be opened by Minister Pertti Salolainen. The seminar’s participants will include Minister of Finance Matti Vanhanen, European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, MEP Alviina Alametsä, Chair of JEF Finland Iiris Asunmaa, Director General of the European Union Military Staff Esa Pulkkinen, Director Mika Aaltola, Director-General for Defence Industry and Space Timo Pesonen as well as Members of Parliament Ilkka Kanerva, Mika Niikko and Erkki Tuomioja, among others.

Others who will be speaking on Friday include Chairs of central labour market organisations Jyri Häkämies, Jarkko Eloranta, Antti Palola and Sture Fjäder, Chair of the Grand Committee Satu Hassi and Member of Parliament Elina Lepomäki, among others.

Come and join us in discussing the future of Europe!

The forum will be implemented for the general public through the Internet. The entire programme will be livestreamed, similarly to previous years. You can send in questions and comments to the livestreamed events via the mobile application of Europe Forum Turku and Twitter. The discussions will be recorded, and you can watch them later via YouTube, among other places.

With regard to those who will be participating in the planning and implementation of the forum on site, the forum will adhere to the instructions issued and participant limits imposed by the Finnish Government, ensuring safe distances and hygiene.

Make your way to the future of Europe and come and join us in Europe Forum Turku on 27 and 28 August 2020 at www.europeforum.fi/en!