Brussels, 31 January 2025 – The European People’s Party Group in the Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR) has elected Sari Rautio as its new President for the 2025-2030 mandate.
A strong advocate for local democracy and regional leadership, Rautio will lead the EPP-CoR, the largest political force in the CoR, in ensuring that villages, cities, and regions have a stronger voice in EU policymaking. She has pledged to reinforce collaboration between local, regional, and European institutions while prioritizing the concerns of communities across Europe.
Addressing local and regional leaders from across Europe, President Rautio highlighted the essential role of regional and local leaders in shaping the EU’s future: “We the EPP are the Party of Mayors and of Presidents of Regions. Each of us here are heavyweights. We are all elected, regardless if at local, regional or intermediary level. The beauty of our institution and our Group is to blend all the different political mandates. The strength is to make it work together.”
A Plan for a Stronger EPP-CoR
Sari Rautio has laid out an ambitious plan to strengthen the role of local and regional authorities in the EU. Her commitments include:
✔️ Engaging all delegations across Europe, ensuring a presence in villages, cities, and regions.
✔️ Placing legislative work at the core of the EPP-CoR agenda and strengthening ties with the European Commission.
✔️ Empowering vice-presidents with delegated responsibilities to ensure effective leadership.
A Committed Leader for Local and Regional Europe
With over 20 years of experience in local and regional politics, Sari Rautio has been an influential member of the European Committee of the Regions since 2020. As the EPP-CoR Coordinator in the COTER Commission, she played a key role in securing EPP-CoR-led opinions.
Her work at the CoR includes:
✔ Rapporteur for the Gender Equality Action Plan
✔ Rapporteur on the Just and Sustainable Transition in Coal and Energy-Intensive Regions
✔ Member of the Group of High-Level Specialists on the Future of Cohesion Policy
✔ Representative of the EPP-CoR in the Road to Recovery events
✔ Organizer of EPP Local Dialogues to bring European decision-making closer to citizens
About Sari Rautio
Born in Finland in 1968, Sari Rautio has been active in politics for over two decades. She has served as:
• Mayor of Hämeenlinna (2013-2021)
• Hämeenlinna City Councillor (since 2005)
• Member of the European Committee of the Regions (since 2020)
• Chair of the Finnish Paralympic Committee (since 2021)
• Chair of the Finnish Red Cross Häme District (since 2023)
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Economics from the University of Helsinki and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education and Law studies at the University of Turku.
Fluent in Finnish, English, Swedish, French, and German, Rautio is committed to strengthening EU cooperation and ensuring that local and regional voices are heard at the highest levels of decision-making. She is a proud mother and grandmother.