Dr. Olli Rehn

Member of the European Commission

 

Date and place of birth:           31 March 1962 at Mikkeli, Finland

Marital status:             Married to Merja Rehn; one child (Silva)

 

Studies

1996 Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford in international political economy; D.Phil. thesis: Corporatism and Industrial Competitiveness in Small European States

1989 Master of Soc. Sc. in political science, University of Helsinki

1982-83 studies in economics, international relations and journalism at Macalester College,

St Paul, Minnesota, USA

 

Main activities

Aug. 2004 Commissioner designate

July 2004 Member of the European Commission, responsible for Enterprise and the Information Society

2003-4 Economic Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Finland

2002-3 Professor and Director of Research, Department of Political Science & Centre for European Studies, University of Helsinki

1998-2002 Head of Cabinet, the European Commission

1995-96 Member of the European Parliament

1992-93 Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Finland

1991-95 Member of the Parliament of Finland

1988-94 Member of the City Council of Helsinki

1988-94 Deputy Chairman of the Centre Party of Finland

1987-89 Chairman of the Centre Youth of Finland

 

Other

• European politics: Vice-President of the Liberal Group in the EP 1995-95; Chairman of the Finnish Delegation to the Council of Europe 1991-95; Vice-President of the European Movement of Finland 1996-98.
• Several books and articles. The latest one on European issues: The Comeback of History: Rebounds of Liberalism in Europe since 1989, in Lex Corijn - Thomas Krings (eds.), Liberalism in the European Union. The Way Forward, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, Berlin 2004.
• Columnist in several newspapers or magazines since 1985.
• Language skills: Active: Finnish (mother tongue), English (primary working language), French, Swedish. Passive: German.
• Military service: Savon Prikaati & the Reserve Officer School, class 168, 1981-82. Lieutenant (reserves) in 1990.
• Salesman (spare parts; during holidays), Mikkelin Autotarvike 1975-82.
• Chairman of the Football League of Finland 1996-97.
• Associated football since 1968 in several clubs, including FC Mikkelin Palloilijat (youth teams 1968-78, first team 1979-82), FC Finnish Parliament (1991-) and CS Eurocommission II (1998-2002).
• Special interests: Political economy. Rock and jazz. Reading.