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