The Europe Forum 2022 was a success: decision-makers, experts and citizens discussed the foreign and security policy situation, the economy and energy

The Europe Forum in Turku was organised for the fifth time and 900 decision-makers, experts and citizens were discussing European matters on 24–26 August 2022. Over the three days, 45 high-quality programme sections were implemented with 40 programme organisers and 200 speakers. During the event, 3600 unique visitors visited live broadcasts. In 2023, the Europe Forum will be held from 30 August to 1 September. The theme will be transatlantic relations and relations between Europe and the United States.

Return to the atmosphere of this year’s Europe Forum by watching the event summary video: Summary video 2022.

The themes of the event days were “Researched knowledge”, “Europe in the world” and “Finland in Europe”. The Forum discussed, among other things, the changed foreign and security policy situation and Ukraine, European co-operation and societal resilience, the EU’s global role in the economy, as well as the green transition and energy issues. Many international invited guests participated in the event, including the Ukrainian Ambassador to Finland, Olga Dibrova, and a large number of EU ambassadors.

On Friday, the last day of the Europe Forum, an EU political prime ministers’ debate took place among party leaders, and the public event in Hansa, Turku, discussed foreign and energy policy, as well as the mental health of young people.

–“ I think it is important that the Europe Forum gathers Finns together every year to discuss EU matters. Right now is a good time for this discussion, because we are living in a time of transition. The Europe Forum can truly serve as a platform for building a common mindset for national EU policy,” says EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen.

– “The changing reality of world politics and Russia’s cruel war of aggression in Ukraine have highlighted the need for European unity. I am glad that this year, too, the Europe Forum has offered us a platform to discuss and seek a common vision for the future of Europe and Finland’s place within,” states Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku.

– “A new sense of community has clearly emerged in matters related to Europe, and the Europe Forum has become one manifestation of this sense of community. Quite a few new actors, operating methods and organisations have joined the Forum and found their place there,” says Anders Blom, Chair of the Europe Forum in Turku.

Speakers at the Europe Forum included Prime Minister Sanna Marin, EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, Minister of Finance Annika Saarikko, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen, Opposition’s Petteri Orpo ja Riikka Purra, Minister of Education Li Andersson, President of The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra Jyrki Katainen, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen, Minister of European and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo, Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä, Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist, MEPs Alviina Alametsä, Mauri Pekkarinen and Sirpa Pietikäinen, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Mika Aaltola, and Director of Finnish Business and Policy Forum Emilia Kullas.

All Forum programme recordings are available online

During the Forum, participants actively discussed on location, on the event platform and in social media. The Forum’s arrangements emphasised the European Youth Theme Year, pluralism, and the opportunity for all citizens to participate in and influence the EU debate.

All event programmes can later be viewed as video recordings on the website of the Europe Forum at www.europeforum.fi. The recordings of the live streams are already available as recordings grouped by day on the Europe Forum event platform at https://event.prospectumlive.com/europeforum/.