3-day long Europe Forum Turku begins today

The Europe Forum Turku, a large EU-related conference open for all citizens, which will be held from August 30 to September 1.

The Forum is organised for the first time with the hope to become an annual conference, marking the opening of discussion on political and economic matters in Finland every autumn, said an official press release.

The Europe Forum Turku will gather Finnish opinion-makers and citizens to discuss Finland's role in Europe and in the European Union.

A discussion event, organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), will take place on Friday 31 August.

The security policy situation has deteriorated in Europe and around the world. Instability is increasing not only because of new conflicts but also because old disputes have exacerbated and competition between the great powers has become tougher.

The rise of power politics challenges the European Union's role as a security policy actor. What is the significance of the rules-based international system in today's "world of deals"? What is the EU’s role or what should it be like in the international playing field and in efforts to find solutions to current global issues and conflicts?

These are the themes that will be handled at a discussion event organised by the Europe Information of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and FIIA on Friday 31 August at 17.00–18.30. The venue of the event will be Åbo Svenska Teater in Turku.

The event will be opened by Permanent State Secretary Matti Anttonen. Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Alexander Stubb will hold the keynote speech and participate in a panel discussion, which will also be attended by Marja Rislakki, Finland’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, and Juha Jokela, Programme Director in FIIA. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Kirsi Heikel.

The Europe Forum in Turku is an event for discussion around the future of Finland and Europe. The event promotes open, science-based dialogue between citizens and policymakers.

The Europe Forum is a platform for civil dialogue about Finland’s current and future roles in Europe and the European Union from a long-term perspective. In the Europe Forum, people from different areas of life get to meet each other: decision-making politicians, non-governmental organisations, economic life, labour market organisations, specialists, and citizens.

Seminars, panel discussions, question times, and civil dialogue will provide a base for constructive dialogue about Europe and the meaning and development of the European Union. Encounters in the Europe Forum in Turku narrow the gap between desicion making and the everyday life of citizens.