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Henna Virkkunen

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Henna Virkkunen
Virkkunen in 2024
Member of the European Parliament
Assumed office
1 July 2014
ConstituencyFinland
Minister of Transport
In office
4 April 2014 – 24 June 2014
Prime MinisterJyrki Katainen
Preceded byMerja Kyllönen
Succeeded byPaula Risikko (Transport and Local Government)
Minister of Public Administration and Local Government
In office
22 June 2011 – 24 June 2014
Prime MinisterJyrki Katainen
Preceded byTapani Tölli
Succeeded byPaula Risikko (Transport and Local Government)
Minister of Education
In office
19 December 2008 – 22 June 2011
Prime MinisterMatti Vanhanen
Mari Kiviniemi
Preceded bySari Sarkomaa
Succeeded byJukka Gustafsson
Member of the Finnish Parliament
In office
21 March 2007 – 1 July 2014
ConstituencyHelsinki
Member of the Jyväskylä City Council
In office
20 October 1996 – 9 April 2016
Personal details
Born
Henna Maria Virkkunen

(1972-06-04) 4 June 1972 (age 52)
Joutsa, Finland
Political partyNational Coalition
SpouseMatti Mäkinen
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Jyväskylä
Websitewww.hennavirkkunen.fi

Henna Maria Virkkunen (born 4 June 1972) is a Finnish politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2014. She is a member of the National Coalition Party, part of the European People's Party. She was Minister of Public Administration and Local Government in the government of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen from 22 June 2011 to 24 June 2014.[1]

Political career

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European Parliament

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In parliament, Virkkunen has been serving on the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (since 2014) and the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism (since 2021).[2] In 2022, she joined the European Parliament Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware.[3][4]

Virkkunen was the rapporteur on the non-binding opinion on integrated digital platforms[5][6] and on driving and rest times.[7]

In addition to her committee assignments, Virkkunen has been a member of the parliament's delegation for relations with South Africa (2014-2019) and with the Arabian Peninsula (since 2019). She is also a member of the European Internet Forum;[8] the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights;[9] the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals;[10] and the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas.[11]

European Commission

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Following the 2024 European elections, the Finnish government nominated Virkkunen as the country’s European Commissioner serving under President Ursula von der Leyen.[12] On 17 September 2024, President Ursula von der Leyen presented the list of Commissioners-designate and their portfolios, according to which Virkkunen will be the Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy for the European Commission in 2024-2029.[13]

Recognition

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In December 2020, Virkkunen received the Energy award at The Parliament Magazine's annual MEP Awards.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Minister of Public Administration and Local Government". Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  2. ^ Mia Bartoloni (March 26, 2021), Movers & Shakers The Parliament Magazine.
  3. ^ Members of the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware European Parliament.
  4. ^ Parliament names MEPs to sit on three new committees European Parliament, press release of 24 March 2022.
  5. ^ Joanna Plucinska (January 31, 2017), Platforms rapporteur: Facebook falters in fake news fight Politico Europe.
  6. ^ "on online platforms and the digital single market (2016/2276(INI))". 2017-05-31.
  7. ^ Hanne Cokelaere and Joshua Posaner (October 8, 2019), 5 people who’ll decide the fate of the Mobility Package Politico Europe.
  8. ^ Members Archived 2019-11-07 at the Wayback Machine European Internet Forum.
  9. ^ Members European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTI Rights
  10. ^ Members Archived 2019-08-31 at the Wayback Machine European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
  11. ^ Members 2019-2024 European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas.
  12. ^ Barbara Moens (24 July 2024), Who will be the next European commissioners? Politico Europe.
  13. ^ Commissioners-designate (2024-2029) European Commission.
  14. ^ Johnson, Brian (2 December 2020). "MEP Awards 2020: Reaction and comment from our winners". The Parliament Magazine. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Education
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Public Administration and Local Government
2011–2014
Succeeded byas Minister of Transport and Local Government
Preceded by Minister of Transport
2014