Hannu Takkula

Hannu Aapa Takkula (born 20 November 1963) is a Finnish politician and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Finland. He is a member of the Centre Party, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.[1]

Hannu Takkula
Member of the European Parliament
In office
1 July 2004 – 28 February 2018
ConstituencyFinland
Member of the Finnish Parliament
In office
24 March 1995 – 20 July 2004
ConstituencyCentral Finland
Personal details
Born
Hannu Aapa Takkula

(1963-11-20) 20 November 1963
Ristijärvi, Finland
Political party Finnish
Centre Party
 EU
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Alma materAalto University
Websitewww.hannutakkula.fi

Early life

Takkula was raised in a Laestadianism family, which is a revivalist group within the Lutheran church. At the age of 15, his family was excommunicated because he played sports, and was allowed to watch television at school by his father who was the headmaster. Takkula and his siblings were also studying classical music, which is forbidden by Laestadianism. Disappointed he started a rock 'n' roll band. His parents became very worried and scared in the changes in their son. So his father researched schools for Takkula and chose a Seventh-day Adventist school in Toivonlinna. Takkula agreed to go to the school which was in southern Finland, to get away from his family in the north. Eventually he joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[2]

Before attending university, Takkula studied music at the Tampere Conservatory and majored in singing. In 1993 he graduated with a Master of Education from the University of Lapland, going on to teach at Anetjärvi comprehensive school in 1992–1995. In 2016, Takkula completed his doctorate degree in the Faculty of Education of the University of Lapland.[1]

Political career

Takkula was elected to the Finnish Parliament in 1995 and acted as a member on the Education and Culture Committee, Environment Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee until 2004.[3] In 2004 and 2009, Takkula was elected Member of the European Parliament.

In 2014 European Parliament election Takkula lost his seat, but returned later in 2015, when Olli Rehn resigned his seat after being elected to the Parliament of Finland.[4] His work focuses mainly on the areas of International Trade, Agriculture, Education, Culture and Sports. He is a member of the ALDE group (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) and the Centre Party of Finland, currently leading the Centre Party MEP delegation.[1] Since 2008, Takkula has hosted the annual weeklong event Supporting Multilingualism through Language Assessment at the European Parliament together with Vice-President Miguel Angel Martínez.

In August 2017, the Finnish government appointed Takkula as the Finnish candidate to the European Court of Auditors. His term did begin in March 2018, while Takkula's seat in the European Parliament was taken by Elsi Katainen.[5]

Takkula has authored books. He has two children and five grandchildren.[1]

Works
  • Where Would You Find the Courage . Helsinki: Arkki, 2006. ISBN 951-618-803-6 .
  • For the Future: Hearts from Europe . Helsinki: Image and Word, 2014. ISBN 978-951-585-288-5 .

References
  1. "Hannu Takkula Homepage". Hannu Takkula Homepage. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  2. "Hannu Takkula:Dialogue with an Adventist member of the European Parliament". College and University Dialogue. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  3. "Hannu Takkula History of Parliamentary Service". European Parliament. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  4. "Hannu Takkula aloitti työnsä EU-parlamentissa". Ilta-sanomat. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  5. "Europarlamentaarikko Hannu Takkula nousee EU-tilintarkastajaksi – Ville Itälä joutuu etsimään uuden työn". Helsingin Sanoamt. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
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