The European Commission has appointed Elina Laurinen as the new Head of its Representation in Helsinki, marking a new chapter in the EU’s engagement with Finland.
She officially takes up her post today and will serve as the Commission’s senior representative in the country under the political authority of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
With nearly three decades of service inside the European Commission, Laurinen brings deep institutional knowledge and a reputation for navigating complex, fast-moving policy files. Her career includes hands-on experience in high-stakes international trade negotiations, having worked on EU trade talks with partners such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Beyond negotiations, Laurinen is widely recognised for her communication and coordination skills. She has played a key role in aligning messages across EU institutions and ensuring that European policies are presented clearly and consistently to national governments, stakeholders and the wider public. This blend of strategic policy expertise and public-facing communication is expected to strengthen the Commission’s presence and visibility across Finland.
A Finnish national, Laurinen most recently served as a member of the cabinet of Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms **Raffaele Fitto**. Before that, she worked in the cabinet of Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton. Earlier in her career, she held a senior coordination role in the Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, focusing on interinstitutional relations, policy planning and briefing coordination. She joined the Commission in 1997 after working in national and international policy environments.
The Commission operates Representations in all EU Member State capitals, supported by regional offices across several European cities. These offices serve as the Commission’s eyes, ears and voice on the ground—liaising with national authorities, civil society, businesses and citizens, while keeping the media and public informed about EU initiatives. Heads of Representation are appointed directly by the Commission President and act as her political representatives in their host countries.
In Helsinki, Laurinen is expected to play a central role in explaining EU priorities, listening to national concerns and strengthening the link between Brussels and Finnish society at national, regional and local levels. Photo by Olga1969, Wikimedia commons.