Erikki Tuomioja

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Erikki Tuomioja "A Nordic Perspective on the Future of Global Democracy" International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin, 29th May 2010


Erkki Tuomioja
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Incumbent

Assumed Office 22 June 2011

President Sauli Niinistö
Preceded by Alexander Stubb
Member of the Finnish Parliament

for Helsinki

Assumed office 22 March 1991
In office 23 March 1970 – 23 March 1979
Personal details
Born 1 July 1946 (age 68)

Helsinki, Finland

Political party Social Democratic Party
Spouse(s) Marja Helena Rajala
Alma mater University of Helsinki
Profession Politician, journalist

Erkki Tuomioja is a prominent Finnish Politician, former journalist, published author of non-fiction and academic work.

Biography[edit]

Tuomioja has been a member of the Finnish Parliament 1970–1979 and 1991–present. He held the position of Minister of Trade and Industry in Lipponen's 2nd government, and became the Minister for Foreign Affairs after Tarja Halonen was elected the President of Finland When Finland held the rotating EU Presidency in the second half of 2006, Tuomioja had a prominent role as the spokesman of European Union foreign policy. He was among the first to demand an immediate cessation of hostilities in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.[citation needed] He was one of Finland's most dominant politicians in the 1990s.

Education[edit]

Erkki Tuomioja was born into a political family as the son of Sakari Tuomioja, a liberal politician, and grandson of Hella Wuolijoki, Estonian socialist activist and writer. He received his B.Sc in Economics and Ph.D. in Political Sciences from Helsinki University. Erkki Tuomioja is also the author of 18 books, including his highly acclaimed “Europe and the Nordic Fringe”.

Notable Work[edit]

  • Minister for Foreign Affairs 22.6.2011 – Present
  • Member of Parliament (Social Democratic Party) 1970-1979 and 1991-Present
  • Chairman of the Grand Committee (EU affairs) 2007 – 2011
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs 2000 – 2007
  • Minister of Trade and Industry 1999 – 2000
  • Vice-Chairman of the SDP Parliamentary Group 1991-1996 and Chairman 1996-1999.
  • Holds a lectureship in political history in the University of Helsinki.
  • Prominent figure during Finland’s EU Presidency in 2006 and spokesman for EU foreign policy. Most notably he has been praised for his work with the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Futher Information[edit]

Lecture in Finnish

ICD - "From Crisis Management to Conflict Prevention". A World Without Walls Institute for Cultural Diplomacy ( BERLIN, 6 November 2010)

External Links and References[edit]

Finnish language article

Government positions
Preceded by Tarja Halonen Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland)

25 February 2000 — 18 April 2007

Succeeded by

Ilkka Kanerva

Preceded by Alexander Stubb Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland

22 June 2011 —

Succeeded by