Finland: Yli-Vakkuri appointed director of International Affairs Unit

NordenBladet — On Thursday 3 June, the Government appointed Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Master of Laws, as Director General of the International Affairs Unit in the Ministry of the Interior for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 April 2026. Yli-Vakkuri has acted as Director of the International Affairs Unit since 2009. Before that, she worked in the same unit as a senior adviser for legal affairs for ten years. Yli-Vakkuri has also worked as a national expert at the European Commission, as a senior officer for legal affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and as a national expert at the Council of Europe.

“I am delighted to be able to continue working at the vantage point for Finland’s international activities and EU activities. An important part of the activities of the Ministry of the Interior is to cooperate nationally, within the European Union, in neighbouring areas and as part of the international community “, says Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General of the International Affairs Unit.Director General of the International Affairs Unit is responsible for the management and effective operations of the Unit. She also directs various authorities in the domestic capacity building for civilian crisis management and the European Union Home Affairs Funds. The Director General of the International Affairs Unit is also responsible for the performance guidance of the Crisis Management Centre Finland.  A comprehensive security clearance has been conducted on the Director General and a non-compete agreement has been concluded with her under the Act on Public Officials in Central Government.