Finland and Sweden and European cooperation in a new era

Tuesday, 7th February 2023 9:00-14:00 EET

Hosts: Pekka Haavisto and Tobias Billström, Ministers for Foreign Affairs

The Swedish Presidency of the EU begins in January during a challenging time. We must navigate a new security policy landscape following Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Opportunities for strengthened Nordic security cooperation will be opened with the entry of Finland and Sweden into the NATO defence alliance.

How can our countries’ strengthen the EU’s role globally including contributing to peace and democracy? What is our view on cooperation between EU and NATO?

PROGRAMME

8:30 Coffee and registration 

9:00 The moderator introduces Hanalys
Kirsi Heikel, journalist

 9:05 Introduction
Gunvor Kronman, chief executive officer, Hanaholmen

9:10-9:40 Finland and Sweden’s view on European cooperation
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Finland
Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Sweden

9:40-10:50 Part 1: How can we strengthen the EU’s role globally?

Keynote
Ricardo Borges de Castro, Associate Director, Europe in the world, European policy center

Commentary: Democracy in retreat worldwide
Cecilia Ruthström-Ruin, Sweden’s Ambassador for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law

Erkki Tuomioja, member of Foreign Affairs Committee and former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finland
Christofer Fjellner, former member of the European parliament, The Opposition’s Vice Mayor, Stockholm
Aron Emilsson, chair, Foreign Affairs Committee, Sweden

10:50-11:20   Break

11:20-12:40   Part 2: Sweden and Finland and civil defence

Keynote: National resilience and its importance for joint defence
Hasit Thankey, Head of NATO’s Civil Defence Unit

Commentary: Public reactions in crisis or war: expectations and reality
Misse Wester, Professor, Lund University

Hans Wallmark, chair, The Defence Commission, Ministry of Defence
Teija Tiilikainen, director, European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
Axel Hagelstam, director, Planning and Analysis Department, National Emergency Supply Agency
Tomas Eneroth, member of Foreign Affairs Committee, former minister, Sweden

12:40-13:00   Concluding dialogue
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, Finland
Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Sweden
Oscar Molander, Sweden’s youth representative at the UN General Assembly
Emilia Uljas, Finland’s EU youth representative

13:00-14:00   Lunch

Organizers: Hanaholmen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden and The Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation

Language: Finnish, Swedish and English with simultaneous interpretation.

Additional information: Project Manager Tina Räihä, tina.raiha(at)hanaholmen.fi

Are you interested in attending the event? Please contact: info(at)hanaholmen.fi