Finland doubly pleased by portfolio and vice-presidency

Finland is celebrating a double victory after MEP Henna Virkkunen was appointed vice-president of the Commission and Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy.

Von der Leyen's surprise decision to appoint on Tuesday (17 September) EPP MEP Virkkunen has been very well received in Helsinki.

According to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (Kok, EPP), who nominated party member Virkkunen for the position, Finland got what it asked for in the portfolio division regarding position and portfolio.

"The (Finnish) position within the commission is strong, and the portfolio is large. The solution is really good", Orpo said on Tuesday.

According to the Finnish prime minister, it took his country a long time to acquire such a heavy-weight portfolio and he stressed that Virkkunen's strengths are compatible with the goals of Finland and Europe.

According to Orpo, Virkkunen's portfolio combines the two most important things Finland wants to influence: competitiveness and security.

"Digitalisation is really important for strengthening competitiveness. It is part of the clean transition, because the transition from fossil fuels is not possible without digitalisation", he said.

"It's hard to imagine how much more we could have asked for," Orpo concluded.

In its press release, the Finnish Central Chamber of Commerce even described Virkkunen's nomination as "a giant step for Finland".

Virkkunen served her third term in the European Parliament, where she was elected for the first time in 2014. She is a member of the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE).

In Finland, Virkkunen has served as minister of education, minister of local government and administration, and minister of administration and transport.

"I knew that von der Leyen wants commissioners with executive skills for key positions", Orpo said.

[Edited by Alice Taylor-Braçe]