Henna Virkkunen | |
Honorific-Suffix: | MEP |
Office: | Member of the European Parliament |
Term Start: | 1 July 2014 |
Constituency: | Finland |
Office1: | Minister of Transport |
Primeminister1: | Jyrki Katainen |
Term Start1: | 4 April 2014 |
Term End1: | 24 June 2014 |
Predecessor1: | Merja Kyllönen |
Office2: | Minister of Public Administration and Local Government |
Primeminister2: | Jyrki Katainen |
Term Start2: | 22 June 2011 |
Term End2: | 24 June 2014 |
Predecessor2: | Tapani Tölli |
Office3: | Minister of Education |
Primeminister3: | Matti Vanhanen Mari Kiviniemi |
Term Start3: | 19 December 2008 |
Term End3: | 22 June 2011 |
Predecessor3: | Sari Sarkomaa |
Successor3: | Jukka Gustafsson |
Office4: | Member of the Finnish Parliament |
Term Start4: | 16 March 2003 |
Term End4: | 1 July 2014 |
Constituency4: | Helsinki |
Birth Name: | Henna Maria Virkkunen |
Birth Date: | 4 June 1972 |
Birth Place: | Joutsa, Finland |
Party: | Finland National Coalition European People's |
Alma Mater: | University of Jyväskylä |
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]
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]
Following the 2024 European elections, the Finnish government nominated Virkkunen as the country’s European Commissioner serving under President Ursula von der Leyen.[12]
In December 2020, Virkkunen received the Energy award at The Parliament Magazine
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