Helsinki, 12-14 June 2026
We are pleased to send you the program for our EUROCAPITALES 2026 International Meeting, organized by our Finnish partners, the European Movement Helsinki Region.
The event will take place in Helsinki from June 12 to 14, under the themes: "Security and Civil Defence in Europe" and "Security Challenges in Europe". Details about the speakers will be provided later.
PROGRAM
June 12
Arrival Friday afternoon
15:00 – "Civil Defence in Finland and EU", Deputy Mayor of City of Helsinki + reception (to be confirmed)
June 13
9:30 – "Security challenges in Europe"
12:00 – Lunch
13:00 – "Military budgets in Europe"
15:00 – Afternoon coffee break
15:30 – 17:00 – EUROCAPITALES INTERNATIONAL AGM 2026
18:00 – Transfer to Evening Dinner Cruise
June 14
9:15 – Visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna Sea Fortress for interested participants. Cost: 20 EUR (bank transfer with participation fees indicated below or cash on arrival).
CONFERENCE AND ACCOMMODATION
VENUE
Hotel Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
Kalastajatorpantie 1, Helsinki, 00330, Finland+358 300 308487 helsinkikalastajatorppa@hilton.com
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/helkjhi-hilton-helsinki-kalastajatorppa/
The hotel is located by the sea in Helsinki, near the government guesthouse and the presidential residence. The city center is a 20-minute drive away.
PARTICIPATION FEE
Program and accommodation in shared twin room: EUR 200
Program and accommodation in single room: EUR 300
The participation fee covers accommodation, meals on Saturday including the dinner cruise and transportation during the event for one person.
It shall be paid to confirm the registration by 21 May to:
Bank details: FI09 1555 3000 1008 68
Eurooppalainen pääkaupunkiseutu ry
BIC: NDEAFIHH
ACCOMMODATION
Lodging is in shared double (twin) or single rooms, depending on the participant’s selection and you can request a roommate to share a room with someone. Breakfast is included and there is a pool, sauna, fitness centre, and Wi-Fi. Participants are responsible for any personal incidental costs at the hotel. For additional nights before or after the event, please book directly with the hotel (do NOT book June 12–14).
Current direct online room-only rate for a twin room: EUR 115/night 13 May). If you let us know of any extra nights you have booked at the hotel, we will inform the hotel to try to keep the same room (booked categories: twin room: Twin Guest Room / single room: King Guest Room).
Please provide your arrival and departure details (flight numbers, date, and time), as well as the dates and the name of your roommate, if applicable.
REGISTRATION
Please register via the Google Forms link:
https://forms.gle/uPrj4TLPFE3XuhkH6
or by email to : eurocapitales@orange.fr
(Please indicate arrival details, name of roommate, if any, diet requests...)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
The nearest airport is HEL. Arrival is expected on Friday before the program begins; late arrivals will be able to receive their rooms from the hotel reception. Departure can be any time on Sunday; the sightseeing program will end around 1 PM in Helsinki Center.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation to event venues will be provided. Helsinki also has excellent public transport for personal trips or airport transfers. The best options from the airport are taxi (EUR 50, 25 minutes) or public transport with a train to Central Railway Station and then tram #4 to outside the hotel (EUR 4.50 ABC-ticket, 1h15 mins).
Please see Helsinki public transport travel planner at: https://www.hsl.fi/en
DINNER CRUISE
The dinner cruise begins at 7:00 PM from the famous Market Square and takes you along stunning shores of the Helsinki western archipelago, while enjoying a delicious archipelago-style dinner. During the cruise, we take a step back in time to the Prohibition era of 1919–1932, when smuggling flourished and tales of the legendary bootlegger Algoth Niska spread across the country. You’ll dive into the colorful history of smuggling, hearing captivating tales about the era and the police’s efforts to stop the illicit trade of spirits. The dinner cruise is included in the participation fee, drinks can be bought separately at the fully licensed bar.
TOURIST VISITS
Optional excursion on Sunday is proposed to UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna Sea Fortress including transfer from the hotel, return ferry tickets Market Square – Suomenlinna – Market Square, entrance to Suomenlinna Museum including a short film on the history and an optional walk from Artillery Bay to King’s Gate to see the bastions of Suomenlinna. The return ferry can be boarded either at Artillery Bay or King’s Gate and reaches Market Square at 1PM. Participants can also return earlier or later, if they wish to spend more time. Weather or other factors may affect the choice of the sightseeing destination.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Diet: Finnish cuisine is reknowned for ingredients such as fresh game, fish and berries. If you have food allergies or a special diet, please advise this on the registration form or by email:
- None
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Kosher
- Gluten-free
- Other:...
Electricity: 230 volts, 50Hz. An example of the plug type: https://www.worldplugoutlet.com/finland/
Currency: Finland is a member of the Eurozone and the currency is EUR.
Languages: Finnish and Swedish are the national languages, all official documentation and e.g. street signs are in both languages. Unlike many other European languages, Finnish is, alongside Estonian and Hungarian, part of the Fenno-Ugric family of languages. The working language of the event is English.
Shops: Standard hours are Monday to Friday 9-21, Saturday 9-18, Sunday 12-18.
USEFUL PHRASES IN FINNISH
How do you do = Kuinka voit
Good morning/day/evening/night = Hyvää huomenta/päivää/iltaa/yötä
Goodbye = Näkemiin
Please = Olkaa hyvä / Thank you = Kiitos
Excuse me / I’m sorry = Anteeksi
Yes = Kyllä / No = Ei
Do you speak English? = Puhutteko englantia?
I don’t understand = En ymmärrä
Please, write it down = Olkaa hyvä, kirjoittakaa ylös
Bathroom = Vessa
Men = Miehet / Women = Naiset
How much does it cost? = Kuinka paljon se maksaa?
The bill, please = Lasku, kiitos
CONTACT DETAILS
Program: Ilari Rantakari, +358 40 709 4245, ilari.rantakari@gmail.com
Operations: Jani Johansson, +358 40 701 6300, eurooppalainenpaakaupunkiseutu@gmail.com
Eurocapitales: Jean-Claude Doguet, +33 6 85 09 21 21, guillaume107@wanadoo.fr
IMPORTANT: Please register and make your bank transfer as soon as possible, as international transfers usually take several days.
Nähdään Helsingissä! See you in Helsinki! À bientôt à Helsinki!
Feel free to forward this message to anyone who might be interested in our meeting.
