Europe Forum Turku Gathers Together Finland’s Top Influencers in Autumn

​The Centre for Parliamentary Studies of the University of Turku is preparing a broad discussion paper on Finland’s EU politics, which will be published in August before the event.  The aim of the paper is to direct discussion at the themes that currently are the most important for the Europe politics of the whole European Union on the one hand and that of Finland on the other.

– Simultaneously, the Union needs to tackle several highly demanding challenges, and there are no easy answers. Bold initiatives and open-minded dialogue are needed from the member states, as never has the need for discussing the future of Europe been as urgent as now. For its part, our discussion paper aims at helping Finland in taking an active and solution-seeking role in this historical situation, says Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies of the University of Turku Markku Jokisipilä.

According to Rector Kalervo Väänänen, researching European parliamentarism is indeed important in order for us to be able to understand the different interpretations of parliamentarism and their effects on democracy and the development of democratic countries.

– Especially now, when we witness people all over Europe striving to question the basic values of democracy, and even to abandon them. The Europe Forum is one way to both cultivate the Finnish dialogue and to seek for influences for it from elsewhere in Europe, Väänänen says.

Events Encouraging Civil Dialogue

In the Europe Forum Turku, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä will provide a review of Europe politics and listen to the citizens’ views on the development of the EU on Friday 31 August. Vice-President of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen will lead a civil dialogue session open for everyone on the values and future of the European Union on Saturday 1 September.

During the forum, dozens of events will be organised with discussion on the role of Finland in Europe and in the EU. The participants in the discussions include, for example, Finland’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, Ambassador Marja Rislakki, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Matti Anttonen, Governor of the Bank of Finland Olli Rehn, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Alexander Stubb, and CEO of the Finland Chamber of Commerce Juho Romakkaniemi.

In addition, the presiding officers from all parties will be present in Turku, as well as representatives of trade organisations and other guardianship organisations as well as nearly all Finnish Members of the European Parliament. The Europe Forum Turku is open and free of charge, and intended for everyone interested in the European Union.

– I am very glad that the Europe Forum is organised in Turku, which has excellent settings for the event and also possesses the heritage as the home of Finnish Europe dialogue. I hope that in the first Europe Forum, we will be able to open up perspectives for open civil dialogue in particular, says Mayor of Turku Minna Arve.

The Europe Forum Turku consists of seminars, panel discussions, question times, and civil dialogue sessions. The venues include the Hansa shopping centre, Åbo Svenska Teater, Radisson SAS Marina Palace, Turku Main Library, and Panimoravintola Koulu brewery restaurant.  The programme will still be complemented, and there may be some changes to the discussion sessions.

One of the most notable events of the Europe Forum Turku is the Public Consultation of the Grand Committee of the Parliament with discussion on Finland’s future EU politics. The Ministry of the Interior will lead a broad discussion on safety and ideological violence, and their development prospects. In addition, the Ministry and the URMI (Urbanization, Mobilities and Immigration) research project will organise in cooperation a discussion session on the impact of immigration on our cities on a broad scale.

Also, the new students starting their studies in Turku during the event week and the student unions have been invited in participating in the discussions in the city of students.

The Europe Forum is organised by the City of Turku, University of Turku, Turku University Foundation, Åbo Akademi University, Åbo Akademi University Foundation, Regional Council of Southwest Finland, Turku Science Park, Turku Chamber of Commerce, and Schuman Society. The organisers also take part in the discussions. The organisers form the Europe Group of Turku that is responsible for the preparations of the event with Chair Anders Blom. The participants in the preparation work and discussions of the event also include Parliament, Prime Minister’s Office, Representation of Finland to the European Commission, European Parliament Information Office Finland, Bank of Finland, Ministry of the Interior, Europe Information, Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava), and Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK).

More information:

The Europe Forum Turku will be held in Turku on 30 August–1 September 2018

The hashtags for the event in social media are #europeforum #turku

More information and the programme can be found at www.europeforum.fi/en. The events held in English have been marked in the programme.

Text: AJ & The City of Turku
Photo: Vesa Aaltonen / The City of Turku