Kimmo Tiilikainen takes over as Minister of the Environment
Kimmo Kalevi Tiilikainen, forest manager, organic entrepreneur, Master of Science (Agriculture and Forestry), and Member of Parliament, began his duties as the new Minister of the Environment in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Vanhanen on 28 September 2007. Mr Tiilikainen was appointed by the President of the Republic as a Member of the Government and Minister of the Environment.
The President of the Republic released upon request Paula Ilona Lehtomäki, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration), Bachelor of Social Sciences, Member of Parliament, from the aforementioned duties.
On 28 September, the Government decided on the division of duties among ministers and ministers’ deputies and changed the composition of the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy.
The division of duties between Ministers at the Ministry of the Environment as of 28 September 2007:
Each minister handles international matters that fall within his/her own ministry’s field of competence and matters related to appointments and personnel administration. Each minister also directs financial planning and the preparation of budgets and other joint matters in his/her respective field.
Otherwise the division of duties in the Ministry of the Environment is as follows:
Minister of Housing Vapaavuori handles matters related to housing, building and land use planning, but not those related to housing allowances.
Minister Risikko handles housing allowance matters.
Minister of the Environment Tiilikainen handles all other matters covered by the Ministry of the Environment.
Further information: Heikki Aaltonen, Permanent State Under-Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2007