Sixth Europe Forum Will Focus on a Changing Europe

The aim of the Europe Forum is to promote open, science-based dialogue between citizens and policymakers. Ministers of the Finnish Government, Members of Finnish Parliament and European Parliament, international specialist on European matters and politics as well as citizens are expected to participate in the event.

The days have been divided into themes as in the previous years. The theme on Wednesday, 30 August is Science and Europe, on Thursday 31, August, Europe in the World, and on Friday, 1 September, Finland in Europe. The venues are new: The Sigyn Hall and the Crichton Hall of the Turku Conservatory at Linnankatu 60 as well as Köysiteatteri of the Arts Academy at Linnankatu 56. It is possible to participate in the events on site or remotely. There is a limited number of seats at the events organised along the Linnankatu street and registration in advance is required. The Finnish parts of the event will be interpreted into English.

Speakers’ Corner organised in Turku market square, panel discussions at the venues on Linnankatu street

The Speakers’ Corner, which has already gotten into its stride with the discussion events organised at the theatre during the spring, will take over the Turku market square for the first time. On Friday, 1 September at 12–17, the Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies Markku Jokisipilä will interview leading names in Finnish politics focused on Europe. There will be an event tent at the market square where different actors gather together around a shared theme, Get to know Europe (Eurooppa tutuksi in Finnish).

Discussion programme organised by the University of Turku:

• Wednesday, 30 August at 1–1.45pm in Sigyn Hall (Linnankatu 60): European Universities and Alliances for excellence: Reaching towards new Frontiers with Northern America
  The event is organised by the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. Main themes in the discussion will be: What do the European (and Finnish) Universities look like from the perspective of the US?  What should be done in order to match with the perceived level of excellence, strategies and collaboration? What can we learn from each other in the sense of HE policy and science diplomacy?
  Participants of the discussion are Officer Susan Bridenstine (Public diplomacy section at US. Embassy Helsinki), Rector Jukka Kola (University of Turku), Rector Mikael Lindfelt (Åbo Akademi University) and CEO Terhi Mölsä (Fulbright Finland Foundation).
  Moderator of the discussion os professor Ludovic Thilly (University of Poitiers, France, coordinator of the EC2U alliance).

• Wednesday, 30 August at 4–4.45pm in Crichton Hall (Linnankatu 60): Politics Outside Politics: Contemporary Euro-American Currents
  The roundtable discussion produced in English by the John Morton Center at the University of Turku considers how political currents crisscross back and forth between Europe and the Americas, and addresses the connections between politics and culture. The addressed questions include: how do contemporary politics operate outside traditional political forums, what is the significance of social media and popular culture to the political rhetoric between the continents, how identity politics and political celebrity culture influence the political culture, and how do various contested topics, concepts, and discussions translate when crossing the Atlantic?
  The participants of the discussion moderated by Journalist Anna-Sofia Berner from the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper are Professor Benita Heiskanen from the University of Turku, Professor Teivo Teivainen from the University of Helsinki, University Researcher Johanna Vuorelma from the University of Helsinki, and Postdoctoral Researcher Oscar Winberg from Åbo Akademi University.

• Friday, 1 September at 10–10.45am in Crichton Hall (Linnankatu 60): Transatlantic trade relations in turmoil: a challenge or an opportunity for Nordic export companies?
  The discussion will address the operation of the Trade and Technology Council launched in 2021, the aim of which is to promote the convergence of transatlantic regulation, and create a closer synergy in political positions and in standard development. However, in the fall of 2022, the United States announced new government subsidies for green technology, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the impact of which is causing concern for European actors. These subsidies have been seen as a way to attract European green technology companies to move their production to the United States.
  Participants of the discussion held in English are Director-General of National Board of Trade Sweden Anders Ahnlid, CEO of Miltton USA Kristiina Helenius, Professor Edvard Johansson from School of Business and Economics at Åbo Akademi University, and Director of Entrepreneurship, EU and International Trade SME-Affairs Petri Vuorio from the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK). The discussion will be moderated by Research Manager Anna Karhu and Postdoctoral Researcher Eini Haaja from Turku School of Economics.

Researchers from the University of Turku are participating in the following discussions:

• Wednesday, 30 August at 10–10.45am: What is the significance of EU cooperation for municipalities and regions? - Examples from Turku and Southwest Finland
  The participants of the discussion include Rector Jukka Kola from the University of Turku, the details of the programme will be announced later.

• Wednesday, 30 August at 10–10.45am in Crichton Hall (Linnankatu 60): Autonomy in the Åland Islands and Crimea – governing a particular population in a national context
  The panelists of the discussion held in English are Dr. Yulia Tyshchenko from the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, Director of the Peace Institute of the Åland Islands Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, and Professor of International Politics Henri Vogt from the University of Turku. Professor Markku Suksi from Åbo Akademi University will moderate the discussion.

• Wednesday, 30 August at 1–2.30pm at Crichton Hall (Linnankatu 60): Turku Climate Forum (in Finnish, interpretation into English)
  The keynote speaker is Professor of Management and Organisation Satu Teerikangas from Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku. During the one and a half hour section, there will also be two panel discussions, in the first one How do biodiversity loss and climate change show in Turku and how do they affect the well-being of city residents? will attend also the director of the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku, professor Ilari E. Sääksjärvi.

• Thursday, 31 August at 9.30–10.15am in Köysiteatteri (Linnankatu 56): Finland's foreign and security policy in a world of division / the new Cold War
  The participants of the discussion held in Finnish are Director General of the Bank of Finland Olli Rehn and Professor of International Business Kari Liuhto from the University of Turku. Moderator professor emeritus Paavo Okko.

• Friday 1. September at 9.00–9.45 in Sigyn Hall (Linnankatu 60) Opening of the day: interview with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo by Markku Jokisipilä, Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies. Programme in Finnish, simultaneous interpretation in English.

• Friday 1. September at 12.00–5 pm Seakers' Corner at the Market Square, policy debates, interviewer Markku Jokisipilä, Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies. Programme only in Finnish.

The programme will be updated during the summer.

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