Brussels, 5 October 2021 (GNP/TDI): Ilkka Salmi, a Finnish lawyer, and public servant, has been named as the EU’s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator by the Secretary-General of the European Council. Salmi will also have a major role in pushing forward the EU counter-terrorism objectives set by EU home affairs ministers in November 2020.
He will contribute to the advancement of EU efforts to combat terrorism by informing the Council on pertinent problems and suggestions for future work, as well as engaging with representatives from non-EU countries, international organizations, and the business sector.
Salmi formerly served as chief of staff at Finland’s interior ministry and as director of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service Supo, he added that he believes his new position would enable him to concentrate only on the battle against terrorism.
The position of Counter-Terrorism Coordinator was established in 2004 as part of measures aimed at tackling terrorist threats following the terrorist attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004.