Europe Forum Turku, Day 3: changes in the security policy environment, European competitiveness and economic growth
This was the eighth edition of the Europe Forum, and in 2025 it marked the 30th anniversary of Finland's membership in the European Union. The topics over these three days included, among others, changes in the security policy environment, European competitiveness, and the EU's multiannual financial framework.
On the third and final day of the Europe Forum Turku 2025, Entreprenerd started early, attending a breakfast with Members of the European Parliament: Aura Salla (EPP, kok.), Eero Heinäluoma (S&D, sd.), Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR, ps.), Elsi Katainen (Renew, kesk.), and Li Andersson (The Left, vas.), who discussed the issues that will be on the table at the start of the autumn session of the European Parliament.
In this regard, the agreement reached between the European Union and the United States on tariffs imposed by Donald Trump will be one of the aspects to analyze. What will be its implications? What about the data of European citizens used by Google and Meta, which generate excellent economic results from it?
Another key point mentioned by the MEPs was Russia’s war against Ukraine; NATO countries’ increase in military spending to 5%; Palestine and famine—what about Israel’s ongoing business activities related to the arms trade?
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However, one of the most pressing issues raised at the table was Europe’s security and competitiveness as it faces the third year of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and how it must address new markets.
How to keep Europe safe and competitive
But the main throughline: how to keep Europe safe and competitive in the third year of war in the neighborhood?... and how to open new markets without losing its innovative momentum?.
Finland’s Member of the European Union Li Andersson spoke to Entreprenerd about this. "If I think especially about the startup scene in in the technology sector there is now talks within the European Commission about something that they call the 28th regime ...and the idea is that at the moment you have kind of 27 different regimes when it comes to taxation and labour market policy and and everything and they are now like the idea is to look at whether for the certain startups for example you could create this kind of pan European environment a business environment".
"I have some doubts personally about this because I'm afraid that they will try to put labor policy or labor market laws into this I see some big challenges there that it might lead to actual lower standards in some countries than what we have so, I think we should be quite careful with how they approach that idea but it's probably good for them to know that there is that those kinds of plans and otherwise I mean the idea in Europe has been that through the internal market you know at least for for businesses working in Europe you would have as unified as possible a market to act in", said Andersson.
Continuing in this vein, we also spoke with Timo Harakka—Member of the European Parliament and former Finnish Minister of Transport & Communications—about data management.
"EU has made some rules during the last mandate on data management and the whole approach is to open up data to be uh widely shared also for SMEs and and startups and that's the whole reason of that regulation and certainly if that is not up to the task we need to review regulation and I think that should be the rule in all data legislation or all technology legislation because technology advances so fast that the legislators and regulators are bound to follow, and we need to have constant reviews whether any legislation is up to the task and if legislation is impediment rather than incentive for innovation".
THIRD DAY FOCUS: EUROPE AND FINLAND’S ROLE
Issues such as security, sustainability, geopolitical changes, artificial intelligence, economic growth, and the role of Europe and Finland in a transforming world defined the third day of the Europe Forum Turku 2025.
Henna Virkkus, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, addressed Finland’s transformation during its EU membership and the EU’s progress toward the 2050s.
She highlighted how Finland’s entry into the EU made it a more international country, enabling citizens to move more easily and quickly across Europe, while exports grew like never before.
She also stressed that Finland still needs more investment in R&D, AI, and quantum technology, noting that one of the priorities in these changing times must be investment in defense and security.
THESE WERE SOME OF THE DAY’S SESSIONS:
- The European Union and Finland in the Winds of International Politics: A Key Piece in the Tide or a Powerful Factor of Influence?
- Sustainable Growth or Defence: Where Should the EU’s Regional Development Funding Go in the Future?
- EU Partnerships in the Era of Predatory Powers - Finnish Institute of International Affairs
- The Textile Industry as Part of National Defence and Security of Supply: A Combatant’s Morale Depends on Their Equipment
- Europe’s Turn: What Is Europe’s Place in Global Geopolitical Upheaval?
- Connecting Nordic - The Benefits of a More Integrated Nordic Region for Regional Economy and Security
- Food - security - vitality, what is money enough for?
- Finland, the EU, and the Global South in Trump’s World
