{ "id": "ep4pdgwzmh", "slug": "henna-virkkunen", "title": "Henna Virkkunen", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.european-union-officeholders", "label": "European Union officeholders", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.european-union-officeholders" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Western Europe · 2021 and later: Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "path": [ { "id": "geo.weu", "label": "Western Europe", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021", "label": "Western Europe · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Henna Virkkunen is a Finnish politician appointed by Ursula von der Leyen in 2024 as European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.", "snippet": "Henna Virkkunen is a Finnish politician appointed by Ursula von der Leyen in 2024 as European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.european-union-officeholders", "markdown": "# Henna Virkkunen\n\nHenna Virkkunen is a Finnish politician who has served as a member of the European Commission and as Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and [Democracy](https://www.edgepedia.org/democracy) since 2024.[1](https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d618729a-a089-41e8-b4b6-093f73729af8_en?filename=Organisation+of+responsibilities+of+the+Members+of+the+Commission.PDF) She was appointed to the post by [Ursula von der Leyen](https://www.edgepedia.org/ursula-von-der-leyen) in 2024 and serves in the Commission for the 2024 to 2029 term.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en) • [3](https://www.earto-annual-conference.eu/speaker/henna-virkkunen/) Before joining the Commission, she served as Vice-Chair of the Central Finland Regional Council.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Current office | Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy (since 2024)[1](https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d618729a-a089-41e8-b4b6-093f73729af8_en?filename=Organisation+of+responsibilities+of+the+Members+of+the+Commission.PDF) |\n| Previous offices | Vice-Chair of the Central Finland Regional Council[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en) |\n\n## Career\n\nVirkkunen was appointed Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy by Ursula von der Leyen in 2024.[3](https://www.earto-annual-conference.eu/speaker/henna-virkkunen/) Under the Commission's decision organizing the responsibilities of its members, she is one of the Executive Vice-Presidents and is responsible for the portfolio of Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, with the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) supporting the portfolio responsibilities.[1](https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d618729a-a089-41e8-b4b6-093f73729af8_en?filename=Organisation+of+responsibilities+of+the+Members+of+the+Commission.PDF) The structural changes in the services listed in that decision were to be implemented by February 1, 2025.[1](https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d618729a-a089-41e8-b4b6-093f73729af8_en?filename=Organisation+of+responsibilities+of+the+Members+of+the+Commission.PDF)\n\nHer mandate covers combating security threats facing the EU, strengthening the EU's external borders and internal security, and strengthening freedoms, justice and democracy.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en) She is also responsible for the Digital and Frontier Technologies portfolio, which entails leading Europe's efforts in shaping a competitive, resilient, and inclusive digital future and maintaining or attaining leadership in strategic digital technologies.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en) • [3](https://www.earto-annual-conference.eu/speaker/henna-virkkunen/)\n\nEarlier in her career, Virkkunen served as Vice-Chair of the Central Finland Regional Council.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n\n## Issues specific to Virkkunen\n\nAs Executive Vice-President, Virkkunen has worked on online safety for children. The Commission's work in this area includes the EU KIDS Act, a measure to restrict social media platforms' access to children in the EU; her official page lists her remarks on the EU KIDS Act and a speech at the Irish Presidency's Conference on Online Safety for Children and Young People.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n\nShe is also responsible for overseeing the EU's path toward reaching the 2030 Digital Decade targets, which will include reviewing the implementation strategy and digital targets in 2026.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n\nIn line with the Commission's commitment to transparency, Virkkunen publishes information on and minutes of all meetings she holds with interest representatives, as well as an overview of mission expenses every two months, and she publishes a declaration of interests under the Commission's Code of Conduct for Members of the Commission.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n\nHer scheduled activities in late September 2026 included a meeting on September 28, 2026 with [Willemijn Aerdts](https://www.edgepedia.org/willemijn-aerdts), Minister for the Digital Economy and [Sovereignty](https://www.edgepedia.org/sovereignty) of the Netherlands, and a keynote speech at Leiden University Europe Hub's 2026 Distinguished Lecture.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en) Her page also lists a joint statement ahead of the International Day of Democracy issued together with High Representative Kallas and Commissioner McGrath.[2](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Organisation of responsibilities of the Members of the Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d618729a-a089-41e8-b4b6-093f73729af8_en?filename=Organisation+of+responsibilities+of+the+Members+of+the+Commission.PDF)\n2. [Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy](https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/henna-virkkunen_en)\n3. [Henna Virkkunen, EARTO Annual Conference 2026](https://www.earto-annual-conference.eu/speaker/henna-virkkunen/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › European Union officeholders*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Henna Virkkunen\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Henna Virkkunen](https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen](https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Henna Virkkunen\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/henna-virkkunen. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Henna Virkkunen is a Finnish politician appointed by Ursula von der Leyen in 2024 as European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy." }