Europe Forum Turku 2025: Invites to an open debate with distinguished speakers
There will be three days of public participation in this debate on the direction of Europe and Finland in a changing world. The Europe Forum is open to everyone and free of charge, but ensure your place and register now.
From August 27 to 29, the 2025 edition of The Europe Forum will take place at the Turku City Theatre, inviting everyone to discuss Europe’s direction in a changing world, where topics such as sustainability and security will have their space.
This year, the event will feature prominent speakers from the fields of politics, economics, and science, among other areas. The Europe Forum is open to everyone and free of charge and can be attended either on site in Turku or by following the programme live online. Meanwhile, the Speakers’ Corner public event does not require registration.
The opening of the Europe Forum will include a speech by SDP President Antti Lindtman, and the participation of the Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Joakim Strand, who will bring a ministerial perspective to the debates on Europe’s future.
One of the most relevant sessions will focus on Finland’s 30 years of EU membership, analyzed from various perspectives, with the participation of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen.
Follow us on: 
Economic policy perspectives at the Europe Forum are presented by Esko Antola Lecturer Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland. Other confirmed names include the former Commissioner and Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen, Member of Parliament Pekka Haavisto, Counselor of State, former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, and the long-term MEP and former Vice-President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala. Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, will discuss the role of the EU in the changing international order.
International speakers, young people and European Parliament
The current perspectives of the European Parliament are brought to the discussion by a large number of MEPs, such as Mika Aaltola, Li Andersson, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Eero Heinäluoma, Elsi Katainen, Ville Niinistö, Aura Salla and Jussi Saramo. Among the international speakers are, for example, Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl and Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director of European Centre for International Political Economy and a distinguished economic expert.
Discussions aimed at young people in particular at the Forum are organised by JEF Finland and Turku Student Unions TYY and Ã…AS, whose programmes focus on education in Europe.
Can check the complete list of speakers here.
Debate to Hansatori: "Turku in Europe"
This year, the Europe Forum also extends strongly to the cityspace: The public event Speakers’ Corner, open to everyone, will be held on Thursday 28 August from 14:00 to 18:00. In the event, MEPs Li Andersson, Mika Aaltola, Sebastian Tynkkynen and Aura Salla will share their thoughts. The former Commissioner and Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen will also take part in the discussion.
The event is aimed at the general public and provides young listeners, in particular, with an easily approachable way of participating in social debate on the future of Europe. For example, EU career is discussed, and EU Youth Delegate Alma Jokinen talks about societal influence from a young person’s perspective.
Also on stage will be Mayor of Turku Piia Elo, as well as Deputy Mayors Sini Ruohonen, Elina Rantanen and Mirka Muukkonen. They will participate in a joint interview on the theme "Turku in Europe". The moderator of the event will be Markku Jokisipilä, Head of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies at the University of Turku.
Important: The event is open to everyone and free of charge, and no advance registration is required.
Registration is open - Attend the event on site or online
The Europe Forum is open to everyone and free of charge. The discussions can also be followed online without prior registration, as all parts of the Europe Forum programme can be viewed in real time on the event website www.europeforum.fi.
The Finnish and Swedish parts of the programme will be simultaneously interpreted into English.
Ensure your place at the Europe Forum and register now here.
Can check the full program here
With information: europeforum.fi