European Forum in Turku 2025 announces framework programme: "Europe's direction in a changing world"
Finland's most significant event focusing on European politics, the Europe Forum, will once again be held in Turku on 27, 28 and 29 August 2025. The three-day forum will bring together key influencers, experts, decision-makers and citizens to discuss current European issues and future challenges for the eighth time.
This year's theme is "The world is changing - how will Europe respond?". The forum will also celebrate Finland's 30 years of EU membership.
"Over the past 30 years, Europe and the whole world have undergone major changes. This milestone provides an excellent opportunity to pause and reflect on what EU membership has meant for Finland - and what kind of Europe we want to build in the future," says Matti Anttonen, Chairman of the Europe Forum Turku Association.
"This year, together with our partners, we have once again put together a programme that will bring together influential figures, experts and civil society actors from both the national and EU levels on the stages of the Europe Forum," Anttonen continues.
An impressive group of decision-makers and experts will once again take part in the Europe Forum discussions. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for technological sovereignty, security and democracy, will be among those participating in the discussions on Finland's 30 years of EU membership at the Europe Forum.
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The opening of the Europe Forum will feature a speech by Antti Lindtman, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party and Member of Parliament, and Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, will discuss the role of the EU in the changing international order.
Other confirmed speakers include former Commissioner and Governor of the Bank of Finland Erkki Liikanen, Minister of State and former Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, Chair of the Grand Committee, Member of Parliament Saara-Sofia Sirén, and long-time Member of the European Parliament and former Vice-President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala. The views of Members of the European Parliament such as Li Andersson, Ville Niinistö and Aura Salla will also be heard at this year's forum.
Registration for the forum will open in early August
The programme outline has now been published at www.europeforum.fi and will be updated continuously throughout the summer. The forum discussions will be structured around four topical themes, and young participants are particularly welcome to attend.
- Finland and the EU - 30 years together, looking towards the future
- A sustainable Europe - socially and ecologically
- Security in transition - challenges and solutions
- Stability and prosperity - the direction of the European economy
The event is free of charge and open to everyone. The programme can be followed at the Turku City Theatre or live online at www.europeforum.fi.
Registration for the Europe Forum will begin in early August.
Business Turku program
The Business Turku program on Thursday morning, 28th August.
08.30 Opening of the day and welcome remarks by Minna Arve , CEO, Business Turku Oy
08.35 Fireside chat - Finland 30 years in the European Union Petteri Orpo , Prime Minister, Prime Minister's Office Markku Jokisipilä , Director, Centre for Parliamentary Studies, University of Turku
09.30 Keynote: Competition in the End of the Western Order: How Will the European Union Survive Under the Pressure of Trump, Xi, Putin and Artificial Intelligence?Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
10.00 Panel discussion: Time for innovation policy? - Corporate research and development in a changing Europe
- Kenneth Widell, General Manager, Research Coordination & Funding, Wärtsilä Oyj
- Lasse Leppäkorpi, Operations Executive, CardioSignal
- Hosuk-Lee Makiyama , Director, European Center for International Political Economy (ECIPE)
The panel will be moderated by Tapani Mylly, Marketing and Communications Director of Business Turku.
10.45 Event ends
Check out the full program on the Europe Forum website.
Information: epressi.com; Business Turku; europeforum.fi