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The next two days I'll be hanging out at the #EuropeForum, a two-day seminar in Turku, Finland, at the occasion of 25 years of Finnish EU membership. I haven't had breakfast nor coffee so forgive me if I'm... snappy. Best so far: thid lady on screen saying the EU lacks vision.
She's not wrong.
Wish she had been introduced, maybe a panelist, instead she's part of a pre-produced promo video.
And we're off. For the live stream is maybe here? https://event.prospectumlive.com/turku-europe-forum-2020/52/customHtml/165
Wish she had been introduced, maybe a panelist, instead she's part of a pre-produced promo video.
And we're off. For the live stream is maybe here? https://event.prospectumlive.com/turku-europe-forum-2020/52/customHtml/165
The mayor of Turku greeted us. In typical Finnish fashion his opening speech sounds, to a European audience, like a funeral speech. And not like an Irish one.
He spoke in three languages and almost without accent. So clearly winning.
The audience here is maybe 4/5 male, mainly dark suits. People are here working. The chair of the Finnish Europe Forum welcomes us. Says the forum is young (3 time being organised) but the idea old.
The audience here is maybe 4/5 male, mainly dark suits. People are here working. The chair of the Finnish Europe Forum welcomes us. Says the forum is young (3 time being organised) but the idea old.
And now, it's time for Germans. German presidency talks to us, "the youth" (meaning Finland? for sure not the audience here...) through @MiRo_SPD who focuses on #RuleOfLaw as the push of the presidency. Good. Nice pre-recorded video.
And a greeting video from the Finnish government, @TyttiTup. I like the order there: Europe first. Tytti calls for defence of democracy and the human, and for saving the climate. I'm feeling really charitable, considering no breakfast, so yeah, these videos are quite OK.
And first actual outside address from a person, live: the Austrian ambassador, @hennig_m. Oh no, he's going to show funny pictures. Caricatures of Austrian EU membership. Hm. Where are they?
Anyway, he lists our common history in the EU. In case we forgot.
Anyway, he lists our common history in the EU. In case we forgot.
Actually, this makes sense. Joined at the same time, non-NATO, both austerity-loonies. The ambassador lists these well.
And after the big pitch of unity, the Austrian special interest: Balkan integration. This hardly gets ANY discussion in Finland, and is a big topic.
And after the big pitch of unity, the Austrian special interest: Balkan integration. This hardly gets ANY discussion in Finland, and is a big topic.
"Once they meet the criteria". I guess this is a good crowd to pitch to.
If you're not interested in my slight snark on Europe, you should mute this thread.
I get some things wrong. THIS is the kaupunginjohtaja ("city leader", mayor substitute) Minna Arve.
If you're not interested in my slight snark on Europe, you should mute this thread.
I get some things wrong. THIS is the kaupunginjohtaja ("city leader", mayor substitute) Minna Arve.
I was getting ready to comment on "first woman" but we had Tytti up before. She called Turku "the most European city in Finland" and... Ok, sure.
