Mikko Vähä-Sipilä to head EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility measures at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

Doctor of Social Sciences Mikko Vähä-Sipilä has been appointed Director at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment beginning on 24 August 2021. The Government decided on the appointment on 19 August 2021.

Vähä-Sipilä will be responsible for directing the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) measures at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. He will be in charge of managing and coordinating the RRF’s implementation at the Ministry, including cooperation between the different departments and the Ministry of Finance.

“The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment plays an important role in implementing Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. Effective implementation and good administration of the plan will be achieved in cooperation between many operators,” Vähä-Sipilä said. 

Vähä-Sipilä has worked as project manager at the Ministry since 2020. Prior to that, he was employed by the European Commission where he specialised in regional, structural and energy policy. Vähä-Sipilä has also been international relations manager at the National Emergency Supply Agency and programme coordinator and researcher at the University of Tampere.

A total of 34 applications were received for the position.

What is the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)? 

The EU’s recovery programme will speed up the recovery of Europe’s economies, societies and people from the coronavirus crisis. The RRF is the largest instrument in the EU’s recovery programme. The aim is to promote the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union and to improve the Member States’ ability to recover.

The RRF will provide funding for the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland. The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland will support growth that is ecologically, socially and economically sustainable in line with the aims of the Government Programme. The Programme will boost competitiveness, investment, RDI and measures to raise skill levels. Recovery funding promotes the renewal of economic structure and the competitive advantage of Finnish companies based on sustainable solutions.

Inquiries: 
Krista Turunen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7178
Mikko Vähä-Sipilä, Director, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7166