On Friday afternoon, the participants traveled from Helsinki to Haikko and were warmly welcomed with coffee before the official opening of the seminar. The program began with a keynote speech by Pauliina Ryökäs, Chair of Akava Students, who addressed the upcoming four-year term of the European Commission as it relates to Akava, one of Finland’s leading trade union confederations representing professionals with higher education.
Immediately following the keynote, a panel discussion was held, focusing on the myths and realities of lobbying, featuring Professor Matti Ylönen from the University of Helsinki and Mari Pekonen-Ranta from Finanssiala (Finance Finland). The evening continued with informal networking, culminating in a dinner in the Romanov Hall and a quiz in the manor’s atmospheric cellar pub.
Saturday was packed with diverse activities. The day began with a workshop on EU careers hosted by the European Commission’s Representation in Finland, providing valuable information and practical advice for those interested in pursuing European career opportunities—something of great interest to many in the JEF Finland crowd.
The spirit of the workshop carried over into the next session, where participants delved into the art of debating. After a lunch break, a panel with newly elected Members of the European Parliament, Jussi Saramo and Maria Ohisalo, took place. They discussed their upcoming term and answered questions from the participants, particularly focusing on the future of the rule of law and the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.
The day’s program concluded with a political review by the European Commission’s Representation in Finland, offering a deeper dive into current issues. After dinner, participants had the chance to showcase their musical talents in the cellar pub’s karaoke.
On Sunday, the seminar continued with a workshop focused on finding solutions for the European Commission’s Green Deal objectives. Before presenting the workshop’s outcomes, the participants explored labor market policies with insights from Aino-Maija Rajoo of Yhteiskunta-alan korkeakoulutetut, a Finnish organization for social sciences professionals, Ilkka Penttinen Fouto from Eurocadres, a European organization representing professionals and managers, and youth delegate Milla Ristikangas. The seminar concluded with a communal lunch and the return to Helsinki.
Participants’ Experiences
Two of the participants, Elsa Kivinen and Alexiane Terrochaire-Barbançon, felt that the Linnaseminaari provided valuable insights into current challenges, politics, and the importance of EU citizenship.
Elsa Kivinen is a long-time JEF Finland member and a contributor to Tähdistö, the organization’s magazine. International guest Alexiane Terrochaire-Barbançon serves as a Communications Officer responsible for Finland and is also a Board Member of JEF Europe, the umbrella organization for JEF Finland.
What did you like most about Linnaseminaari?
Elsa Kivinen: “Compared to previous Linnaseminaari events, this one was definitely the most interactive. We were given opportunities to engage with one another, and for example, we learned how to debate about the European Union. Such opportunities are rare unless you are the chair of a political party, who is asked about EU issues publicly. I believe there should be even more items like this in the program!”
Alexiane Terrochaire-Barbançon: "What I enjoyed the most was definitely meeting fellow JEFers from Finland and hearing all about the local activities implemented! I heard about twinnings (fostering friedship between countries) from the Helsinki section, and the implementation of the Democracy Under Pressure project. It was refreshing and stimulating to hear ideas from the local sections - it definitely inspired me to bring those ideas to the European level and include them in our future projects! Also, on a personal note, I particularly enjoyed meeting the JEF Finland’s Board members for the first time in person!”
What new things did you learn?
Elsa Kivinen: “I learned a lot about how certain issues are approached and how some things are so complex that communicating about them can be very challenging. I’ve known that communicating about and marketing EU careers, for example, is challenging, but I gained new perspectives on how people perceive these issues.”
Alexiane Terrochaire-Barbançon: "I learned more about the political context of Finland and how young people perceive the EU. I heard about the growing indifference or perhaps a lack of knowledge about EU opportunities. The workshop with the EU Commission made me really think about how EU countries face similar issues in recruiting young people into EU-related jobs. The topic of professional paths in the EU world stimulated my interest and could potentially turn into a project or a campaign I’d like to work on and suggest to my colleagues at the JEF Europe Board. I also really enjoyed learning Finnish songs. Samuel (from JEF Finland) had outdone himself by teaching us about Finnish history and Porvoo. I enjoyed it a lot!”
How did Linnaseminaari shape your view of your role in Europe’s future?
Elsa Kivinen: “Politics has always been a big part of my life, or rather EU politics has strongly shaped my life. This ties into where I was born and where I’ve lived. So, in that sense, highlighting the personal aspect of politics, not treating it merely as distant jargon, is important. The EU doesn’t just affect what happens in the corporate world; it affects where people live, what gets recorded in history, and what is considered important. All of this is visible in people’s lives. When it is said that the personal is political, I also believe that politics is very personal.”
Alexiane Terrochaire-Barbançon: “I would say that this seminar really strengthened my will to learn more about national politics in the sections I am a contact person for. This seminar taught me about Finnish politics and Finnish perceptions of the EU, especially among the youth. Doing the personal work of understanding these matters is crucial to designing projects which are carried out at the JEF Europe level. These projects should be fun, appreciated by the network, easily translatable for a multilingual audience, and impactful in the national and local sections. It is hard as sections experience different political cultures but this seminar made me believe that it is possible. And I intend to play a role in that whole process, connecting our organisations from the ground to the EU policymakers and the other NGOs, side by side with Christelle, the President of JEF Europe, and my fellow EB colleagues and friends. The seminar clearly strengthened my JEF Spirit!”
Original article in Finnish can be found on our Finnish partners’ Tähdistö website.
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