16 February 2026 09:35 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission appoints Elina Laurinen as Head of Representation in Helsinki

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Elina Laurinen takes office as Head of Representation in Helsinki
She will act as the official representative of the Commission in Finland under President Ursula von der Leyen

TL;DR

Elina Laurinen takes office as Head of the European Commission Representation in Helsinki, acting as the Commission's official representative in Finland with almost 30 years' Commission experience including participation in trade negotiations.

Original text

European Commission - Press release Commission appoints Elina Laurinen as Head of Representation in Helsinki Brussels, 16 February 2026 Today, Elina Laurinen takes office as the new Head of the European Commission Representation in Helsinki, Finland. In this function, she will act as the official representative of the European Commission in Finland under the political authority of President Ursula von der Leyen . With almost 30 years of experience in the European Commission, Ms Laurinen brings a strong track record in conducting negotiations and undertaking representation tasks in complex and fast-evolving policy areas, including international trade. She was, for example, part of the EU negotiating teams in charge of trade talks with the US, Australia and New Zealand. Throughout her career, she has also demonstrated strong communication skills, effectively coordinating messaging across EU structures and ensuring clear and coherent presentation of EU policies to both national and international audiences. This background, combined with her extensive experience in coordinating major policy initiatives, equips her to lead the Representation effectively, advance the Commission's priorities, and enhance its visibility at national, regional, and local levels. Ms Laurinen, a Finish national, previously served as Member of the Cabinet of Executive-Vice- President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto . Before that, she was Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton. Previously, she served as Team Leader in Interinstitutional Relations, Policy and Briefing Coordination in the Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE). Before joining the Commission in 1997, Ms Laurinen worked in national and international institutions. Background The Commission maintains Representations in all EU Member State capitals, as well as Regional Offices in Barcelona, Bonn, Marseille, Milan, Munich, and Wroclaw. The Representations act as the Commission's eyes, ears, and voice on the ground in Member States. They engage with national authorities, stakeholders, and citizens, and inform the media and the public about EU policies. Heads of Representations are appointed by the President of the European Commission and act as her political representatives in the Member State to which they are posted. For more information Welcome to the website of the European Commission Representation in Finland IP/26/417 Press contacts: Balazs UJVARI (+32 2 29 54578) Isabel OTERO BARDERAS (+32 2 29 66925) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email

European Commission appoints Elina Laurinen as Head of Representation in Helsinki

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