Saavutettavuusseloste

WORLD AFFAIRS FORUM: Germany and Finland work together at the heart of EU

WORLD AFFAIRS FORUM 14.11.2016

Photo: Siina Hietajärvi

The economic and societal situation of the European Union and its member countries has raised a questions and worries in the recent years. The political and economic situation in global scale brings out challenges that every country has to face within the near future.

On Wednesday 14th of November Martti Ahtisaari Institute at Oulu Business School had the pleasure of having two distinguished guests talking and discussing about the societal and economic situations of Germany and Finland in reference to the EU.

In her keynote, German Ambassador to Finland Dorothee Janetzke-Wenzel presented the development of Germany-EU relations, as well as current challenges and opportunities for future. According to Janetzke-Wenzel Germany would never leave and do away EU and the United Nations. These are not unions between countries, these are unions between people. Furthermore the ambassador underlined the many similarities between Germany and Finland, in both their standing towards EU but also in the way the people in our two nations think: Finns and Germans are in many ways thinking alike: we do not only believe in having rules, we also believe in adhering to rules.

In her address, the Member of Finnish Parliament Tytti Tuppurainen presented an overview on the Finnish economy and society. Despite the troubling times, Finland can be regarded as a safe haven in many respects. We honor our obligations, our political and legal systems are stable. Tuppurainen also pointed at the importance of being active in European affairs: "Since (Prime Minister) Lipponen, we have wanted to be at the very heart of EU." According to Tuppurainen, Finnish companies have found great trading partners in their German counterparts, with more opportunities lying ahead for example in the fields of energy technology and clean tech.

World Affairs Forum was organized on 14th of November in Oulu Business School premises. The event was organized by Martti Ahtisaari Institute.