Citizens' Dialogue with Vice-President Jyrki Katainen Monday 20 May 2019, 15:00 - 16:30 (EEST)Lahti, Finland Media katainen_lahti.jpgkatainen_lahti.jpgClose Speakers Practical information WhenMonday 20 May 2019, 15:00 - 16:30 (EEST)WhereLahden pääkirjaston auditorio, Kirkkokatu 31 Lahden pääkirjaston auditorio, Kirkkokatu 31, Lahti, Finland Report Vice–President Jyrki Katainen, Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (EPP) and MP Johannes Koskinen (S&D) discussed with citizens in Lahti about the Future of the EU, European elections and what kind of internal and external threats the EU is facing. Vice-President Katainen said that the three main threats Europe is facing are environmental issues, external pressures and internal problems with Governments that do not respect common values.To the opening question of whether they feel that their voice is heard in the EU, the majority answered that they did.Participants raised questions on sustainability, the circular economy and how the implementation of rules is monitored. One participant expressed concerns about how plastic waste is treated.Another participant asked Vice-President Katainen about Europe's polices towards forests: "Finland seems to be left alone in Europe in the forestry sector; how can we build networks to protect Finnish forest based livelihoods?"The debate then turned to pensions, with one participant saying that there are big structural and practical differences in pension systems and funds between member states. "How can we guarantee that this does not hurt monetary and economic systems?" she added.The European Parliament elections were also discussed, with a participant asking: "How can the Finnish Members of the European Parliament protect Finnish interests in the EU parliament and in the EU in general?"Participants also brought up other topics like the protection of women and minority rights in the EU and in the world, or the way to better manage "the increase of muslim migrants in Europe."At the end of the debate, participants were asked if the event had improved their knowledge of the EU. An overwhelming majority agreed that it had.The event in Lahti was part of Vice-President Katainen's series of visits to Finnish regions before the European elections and the series of Citizens' Dialogues that involve the whole European Commission and take place in all EU Member States. Related links More details (in FI) available here
Vice–President Jyrki Katainen, Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (EPP) and MP Johannes Koskinen (S&D) discussed with citizens in Lahti about the Future of the EU, European elections and what kind of internal and external threats the EU is facing. Vice-President Katainen said that the three main threats Europe is facing are environmental issues, external pressures and internal problems with Governments that do not respect common values.To the opening question of whether they feel that their voice is heard in the EU, the majority answered that they did.Participants raised questions on sustainability, the circular economy and how the implementation of rules is monitored. One participant expressed concerns about how plastic waste is treated.Another participant asked Vice-President Katainen about Europe's polices towards forests: "Finland seems to be left alone in Europe in the forestry sector; how can we build networks to protect Finnish forest based livelihoods?"The debate then turned to pensions, with one participant saying that there are big structural and practical differences in pension systems and funds between member states. "How can we guarantee that this does not hurt monetary and economic systems?" she added.The European Parliament elections were also discussed, with a participant asking: "How can the Finnish Members of the European Parliament protect Finnish interests in the EU parliament and in the EU in general?"Participants also brought up other topics like the protection of women and minority rights in the EU and in the world, or the way to better manage "the increase of muslim migrants in Europe."At the end of the debate, participants were asked if the event had improved their knowledge of the EU. An overwhelming majority agreed that it had.The event in Lahti was part of Vice-President Katainen's series of visits to Finnish regions before the European elections and the series of Citizens' Dialogues that involve the whole European Commission and take place in all EU Member States.
