New faces at the EU Representation
There have been numerous changes in the staff at the Permanent EU Representation of Finland. New faces include Cops ambassador Anne Sipiläinen and Chief of Administration Pekka Puustinen. Permanent representative, ambassador Eikka Kosonen continues as head of the Representation. Ambassador Nina Vaskunlahti is still responsible for Coreper-1 affairs.
The last officials acting as reinforcements during Finland’s Presidency in 2006 have returned to Finland. A couple of dozen new officials have started in Brussels, and there have been changes in virtually all sectors.
Anne Sipiläinen, who sits on the Political and Security Committee (Cops), takes over from Teemu Tanner. Sipiläinen is aware that the committee is a demanding and time-consuming entity.
- The pace of meetings is tough, and the autumn looks really challenging. The autumn started off straightaway with three extra meetings. But dealing with core foreign and security policy issues and also concrete crisis management operations is precisely Cops’ bread and butter, and the time that is required will be devoted to it, Sipiläinen says.
Cops also thrashes out the Union’s longer-term objectives and engages in a strategic debate on them. Various crises also keep it busy. Sipiläinen observes that the challenges of the autumn include Kosovo, the Middle East and African crises.
Sipiläinen worked before coming to Brussels as Deputy Director General at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ Political Department. The field of responsibility is also thoroughly familiar to her from earlier posts – Sipiläinen was European correspondent during Finland’s first Presidency of the EU. She was also involved in drawing up the Security and Defence Policy Report of 2004.
Puustinen is a "lucky guy"
At its peak, the Representation had over 150 employees for the 2006 Presidency. Since the autumn of 2007, it has returned to normal strength. The Representation has a staff of almost 100.
Representation personnel comprise expert officials from various fields sent from Finland and employees hired locally.
New Chief of Administration Pekka Puustinen feels the Representation to be an inspiring field of work.
- The EU Representation looks like a great place to work, my new colleagues are competent and independent. A group of almost a hundred are working in the interests of Finland and the EU. I want to do my best to ensure that everyone gets a good service and the wheels turn in Finland’s biggest department abroad, says Puustinen.
- At the same time, we are bringing together the administrative services of the three Brussels representations (EU Representation, Embassy and NATO Representation) in a new way. This is a real pilot project, I’m surely a lucky guy to have got the chance to manage it.
Puustinen has previously worked alongside the late EU Ambassador Antti Satuli, in personnel administration and, prior to his transfer to Brussels, for 3.5 years as head of a thirty-strong unit. She is also familiar with managing EU working groups.
There has also been a change in the Representation’s premises. During the summer, the rented premises in the Arlon building acquired for the additional resources of the Presidency (Rue de Tréves 84) have been relinquished. Most of the personnel work in the current premises (Trèves 100). In addition, the EU Representation has the use of facilities on two floors in the building opposite (Trèves 45). Officials monitoring agricultural and economic affairs are among those working there.