Finnish AEPF in English

Finnish AEPF (Asia-Europe People’s Forum) Network

The Idea behind

After the Sixth AEPF organized in Helsinki, Finland in September 2006 the NGOs hosting the National Organizing Committee decided to establish a permanent Finnish AEPF Network.

The dialogue between the official ASEM and the AEPF as well as with the ASEF took remakable steps forward in Helsinki meeting. Finland as holding the EU presidency then met with the representatives of the Internatonal AEPF Committee many times. Finland also received the AEPF Final declaration to be passed to the official final statement of the ASEM meeting. Finland also recommended the future presidents of EU to continue this dialogue and support the work of AEPF financially.

The Finnish NGOs have long had Asian-European cooperation, among others in the comprehensive democracy issues and together with activist groups criticizing International Financial Institutions. The AEPF 6 autumn 2006 further strenghtened this and promoted the cooperation also among many new actors who acknowledged the Asian-European dimension in their work.

The Finnish AEPF Network is an independent entitiy but the AEPF Finland project is governed by Service Center for Development Cooperation KEPA (www.kepa.fi), and funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The Finnish AEPF Committee and network 2012
Chairperson: Ms. Anita Kelles-Viitanen
KEPA board nominated representative: Ms. Minna Hakkarainen
Kepa program director, Ms. Outi Hannula
Attac Finland (Ms. Anita Kelles-Viitanen)
Committee of 100 (Mr. Kalle Sysikaski, vice chairperson of AEPF Finland Committee)
Democracy forum Vasudhaiva Kutumbakan
Etnia Association (Mr. Alpo Ratia)
Finnish Asiatic Society (Ms. Tove Selin, vice chair of the committee)
Finnish Cambodia Friendship Association (Mr. Joona Pietarila)
Finnish Family Federation
Finnish Peace Union
Finnish Philippines Society
Finnish NGDO Platform to the EU - Kehys ry
Finnish Vietnamese Friendship Assocation (Ms. Mira Käkönen)
Friends of the Earth Finland (Mr. Olli-Pekka Haavisto)
Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights  KIOS (observer)
Solidarity Centre of the Finnish Trade Unions

 

More information about the Finnish AEPF Network and committee please contact:

AEPF Finland, c/o KEPA
Töölöntorinkatu 2 A
FI-00260 Helsinki, Finland

email: eija.niskanen (at) kepa.fi
tel: +358-(0)50-317 6725