Over 700 athletes from 46 countries will take part in the event which runs until Saturday 27 August.

Two years ago in Assen, the GB team came away with 43 medals and finished fourth in the medals table.

This year's squad features a mix of newcomers and some experienced campaigners.

BBC Sport looks at some of those who will be hoping to have a successful time in Finland.

WHO: Nathan Stephens
FROM: Wales
AGE: 17
EVENTS: F56 shot (wheelchair amputee)

The Welsh teenager will be making his senior international debut in Finland competing in the shot but he is also a talented discus and javelin thrower.

In July he came away with three gold medals in the under-18 shot, discus and javelin events at the IWAS Junior Championships at Stoke Mandeville.

Stephens was hit by a train when he was nine and had to have his legs amputated but since then he has become a sports fanatic.

A talented sledge hockey player who has represented Wales at the World Championships, his ambition is to become the first GB athlete to win medals at both Summer and Winter Paralympics.

Although his sights are firmly set on Beijing and London, Stephens could be a surprise medallist in Finland.

WHO: Beverley Jones
AGE: 30
FROM: Wales
EVENTS: T37 100m and F37 shot (Cerebral palsy)

Double gold in Finland would cap what has been an excellent year for the multi-talented Welsh athlete.

After competing in the sprint events in the Sydney Paralympics, Jones took part in the F38 shot final in Athens where she finished fourth.

But since then, she has been reclassified into the 37 category, meaning she is now competing against more disabled athletes.

She finished second to a F38 athlete at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester in May but then broke the world record the following month at the same venue.

She came away from the International CP Games in Connecticut last month with golds in the 100 and 200m and the shot and will be hoping to continue her gold rush in Finland.

WHO: Danny Crates
AGE: 32
FROM: Essex
EVENTS: T46 400 and 800m (arm amputee)

Apart from Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Crates is probably one of Britain's most recognisable athletics Paralympians.

After his success over 800m in Athens last year, Crates found it difficult to get back to business, not helped by undergoing a minor knee operation in December.

He suffered a surprise defeat to Algeria's Samir Nouioua at the Visa Paralympic World Cup in May but gained revenge in a rematch at the Norwich Union Crystal Palace Grand Prix in July.

He will be defending his 800m crown won two years ago in Assen but is also planning to double up in the 400m - the event he specialised in before he moved up in distance.

WHO: Graeme Ballard
AGE: 26
FROM: Chorley, Lancashire
EVENTS: T36 100 and 200m (cerebral palsy)

Ballard goes to Finland hoping to improve on the 100m silver and 200m bronze he won in Assen two years ago.

After winning bronze in the 200m at the Athens Paralympics, Ballard switched coaches and now works with former GB sprinter Paula Dunn.

The change has worked so far this season with Ballard clocking a number of personal bests during the season and also winning a couple of medals at the Visa Paralympic World Cup in May.

Although Olympic 200m champion Wa Wai So is not expected to take part in Finland, Ballard will face a tough challenge from Poland's Marcin Mielczarek and Greek Panagiotis Manetas.

But Ballard will be looking to come away with some impressive times in the sprints - and a couple of gold medals would also go down well!

WHO: Tushar Patel
AGE: 26
FROM: London
EVENTS: T54 5000m and marathon (Wheelchair)

After missing out on the qualifying times for the Athens Paralympics, Patel has a lot to prove at the European Championships.

On the track he is the current 1500, 5,000 and 10,000 British record holder in his category, setting the 1500 mark earlier this year during a successful series in the USA against some tough competition.

But he is also an accomplished road racer and is the 5 and 10km British record holder.