Seminars on the future of Europe
The European Union has traditionally evolved through crises - where is the Union headed next? Addressing the current situation requires open discussion, integrating different points of view.
Espoo 26 April 2012
The Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Europe Information and the Aalto University arranged a seminar on the Digital Single Market in Dipoli Congress Center (Otaniemi campus, Otakaari 24, Espoo) on Thursday 26 April 2012 at 10.00–12.00. The event was part of a series of seminars on the future of Europe (www.vnk.fi/futureofeurope).
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, Minister of Labour Lauri Ihalainen and Executive Vice President Esko Aho, who is responsible for Corporate Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility in Nokia, held the keynote speeches. Government Counsellor Antti Riivari from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, CEO Katri Sipilä from Teosto and EVP Legal & Corporate Communications Markku Ignatius from Sulake took part in the discussion moderated by Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb. The seminar was conducted in Finnish.
The event discussed ways to boost growth through the development of the Digital Single Market.
The Digital Single Market means sale and transmission of products, services and digital content via digital channels. Companies’ operation in the Digital Single Market is hampered by varying intellectual property regulations in different countries. Moreover, e-commerce also suffers from VAT procedures and compensation systems.
Helsinki 13 March
The Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Europe Information and the University of Helsinki arranged a seminar on the future of Europe in the University of Helsinki on Tuesday 13 March.
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, and former President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet presented the keynote speeches in the seminar. Rector of the University of Helsinki, Thomas Wilhelmsson, opened the seminar. The discussion was moderated by Director Teija Tiilikainen from the The Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
The event can bee seen as a recording at
http://valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tallenteet/fi.jsp
Prime Minister Katainen's speech
The discussion was also followed on Twitter using the hashtag #EUtulET.
Turku 12 December
The Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Europe Information and the University of Turku arranged a seminar on the future of Europe on Monday, 12 December at the University of Turku.
The seminar included addresses by Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. The discussion focused on the future of Europe from the point of view of the Baltic Sea region, in particular. The seminar language was English.
Prime Minister Katainen's speech
Tampere 7 November
The Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Europe Information and the University of Tampere arranged a seminar on the future of Europe on Monday, 7 November at the University of Tampere.
The seminar begun with a speech by Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, followed by addresses by German Federal Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schäuble and Minister of Finance Jutta Urpilainen. The seminar language was English.
Prime Minister Katainen's speech
Federal Miniser of Finance Schäuble's speech 
Video recording of the seminar
Video recording of the press conference after the seminar
Helsinki 7 September
The Prime Minister's Office, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Europe Information arranged a seminar on the future of Europe on 7 September in Helsinki.
The seminar began with a speech by Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, followed by panel discussion. The chairman of the panel discussion was Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb and the other participants were Teija Tiilikainen, director, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Jaakko Kiander, director, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Member of Parliament, the Social Democratic Party and Vesa-Matti Saarakkala, Member of Parliament, the Finns Party.
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen's speech
Video recording of the seminar