Finland, the EU and Russia discussed in Joensuu

Press release 33/2016
12 February 2016

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise a series of public events together with local partners of cooperation. The theme of the tour of events will be the relations between Finland, the EU and Russia.

The topics of discussion will include the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis, the sanctions and the economic situation in Russia. The speakers will also handle the bilateral relations between Finland and Russia.

Finland, the EU and Russia – Where are we now? This is the title of the tour of events to be opened in Joensuu in cooperation with the Regional Council of North Karelia. A public seminar will be arranged in the Carelicum auditorium on Monday, 15 February at 18.00–20.00.

Keynote speakers will be Vesa Kekäle, Media Specialist, Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Johanna Ala-Nikkola, Commercial Counsellor, Department for External Economic Relations from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The event will be opened by the first vice-chair of the Board of the Regional Council of North Karelia Ritva Mahlavuori and commentary will be presented by Krista Mikkonen, MP, and Miika Raudaskoski, Project Researcher at the VERA Centre for Russian and Border Studies, University of Eastern Finland. Counsellor Juha Vänskä from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will chair the event.

The tour will continue to Turku (7 March) and Lappeenranta (11 April).

Inquiries: Virpi Turunen, Deputy Director, tel. +358 50 365 8223, Juhana Tuomola, Communications Officer, tel. +358 40 510 7529.