Sirpa

At the European Parliament, I am a member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) and the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM), as well as substitute in the Environment and Public Health Committee (ENVI).

I have been the rapporteur and shadow rapporteur of the Parliament’s texts on circular economy, and I have given hundreds of speeches about eco-design, waste reduction and policies supporting growth in circular economic practices.

I am committed to the idea of a Europe with a human face, a Europe that guarantees the respect of human rights, rule of law, democracy, equal opportunities, social inclusion and access to high quality services. To achieve this, Europe needs economic stability and growth.

Prosperous Europe needs enhanced surveillance of the financial sector as well as transparency. Investments in education and research are needed to foster innovations that allow us to benefit from digitalization and to move towards a circular economy. Only by becoming continuously wiser and more flexible can we stay at the top of international competition. Only a prosperous Europe can build well-being and protect environment, and the other way around – only a society that takes care of its citizens and of the environment can be prosperous. Human, economic and environmental well-being are an inseparable entity.

I believe these new business models and paradigm changes are essential in the creation of an environmentally friendly Europe, in which production and consumption are designed in a way that allows our continent to be viable for the generations to come. Europe should lead the way and keep the environment high on its agenda including in its external policies to reach ambitious international agreements. In the near future, decisions makers are responsible for keeping our globe viable.

However, the EU cannot give responses on its own to issues concerning prosperity, fair economic competition, the environment or security. The common mission of the Union shall thus be the reinforcement and the reform of multilateral negotiation procedures on the international level. The EU can be a great hub of global influence when it stresses better policy making through international organizations. This is my idea of a ”Global Europe”.

You can check my parliamentary activities here.

My assistants at the Parliament are Iida, Kristian and Lotta. Do not hesitate to contact us (contact details below) if you have questions, meeting requests or any other demands. My assistant Kristiina handles activities in Finland. Comments on my parliamentary work are also more than welcome. I am looking forward to your contact!

Sirpa Pietikäinen’s CV

Photos for press use (Flickr)