Everyday Life
I am a passionate traveler and a voracious consumer of good literature, especially biographies, as well as high-quality TV series and movies. Happiness for me comes from my family and friends, as well as constantly learning and pursuing my dream of building a better Finland and a more united Europe. My goal is to work in the field of Finnish society development and European politics, and to build a better-functioning Finnish welfare society and a strong Europe for the benefit of us Finns. Currently, I relax and recharge by riding my exercise bike after straining my back in the aftermath of a marathon. I also practice pilates while listening to an audiobook or some good music.
I was born in Lappeenranta, where my childhood family consisted of my mother, father, and a sister who is six years younger than me. My mother worked as an educational planner in the field of liberal adult education, and my father had his own civil engineering firm. During my childhood and youth, I spent my free time on the baseball field and with my dance hobby. Currently, my family includes my husband, who works in international politics, as well as our son born in 2021 and our daughter born in 2023.
Towards Politics
I became interested in politics at the age of 15 when I joined the youth council. After reading Karl Marx’s ”Capital” and going through the election programs of different parties, I joined the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus). Besides my life experiences, knowledge of political history and different ideologies have provided the foundation upon which I have built my own worldview and political views. Pursuing a balance between freedom and responsibility and emphasizing individual freedom became the key reasons for my party choice.
After high school, I completed my military service at the Air Force Signal School in Tikkakoski. I was discharged as a reserve sergeant in 2004 and then worked as a contract soldier at the Upinniemi Garrison.
I studied political science as my major at the University of Turku, as well as European politics, leadership, and political history at the University of Helsinki. During my studies, I worked as a salesperson at Stockmann, a department store in downtown Helsinki, for six years. At the same time, I completed two internships related to my studies, one at the Finnish Information Office of the European Parliament and the other at the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA.
Before graduating, I strengthened my language skills and European expertise by studying EU economic and foreign policies at Leipzig University in Germany. Before my year in Germany and after graduating, I worked as a parliamentary assistant in the Finnish Parliament. In the spring of 2012, I moved to a Helsinki-based communication agency, where I worked as a communication consultant and project manager specializing in EU communication. At the same time, I served as a member of the Helsinki National Coalition Party Council Group, as a substitute member, and as the Deputy Chair of the Technical Committee.
Common Sense, International Expertise
In early August 2014, I started working in the cabinet of European Commissioner Jyrki Katainen, responsible for economy, finance, and the euro, at the European Commission. From November 2014 onwards, I continued my work in the new Commission as a member of Vice-President Katainen’s cabinet, responsible for jobs, growth, investment, and competitiveness. In the summer of 2016, I received an invitation to join President Jean-Claude Juncker’s special advisory team at the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC), where I worked as a foreign policy advisor until March 2020. From 2018 to 2020, I also served as the Chair of the National Coalition Party Council. In May 2020, I started working in Brussels as the Head of EU Affairs and Public Relations at META.
In the spring of 2023, I ran as a candidate for the Finnish Parliament in the Helsinki district as a member of the National Coalition Party and was elected with 4,189 votes. Once again, warm thanks to all the people who voted for and supported me. I will make good use of my common sense and international expertise in the Parliament.
I hold a Doctor of Social Sciences degree from the University of Turku. In my dissertation, I examined the changing role of the European Commission during the years of the euro crisis from 2010 to 2014. I have been a visiting lecturer at Harvard University, teaching European economic policy, and in 2018, I had the opportunity to start as a visiting researcher at École des ponts ParisTech University in Paris, specializing in circular economy research.
In June 2024, I was elected as a Member of the European Parliament. As an MEP and an advocate for a more rational European Union, I aim to concentrate on the economy, security, and addressing climate change.
You can find more about my values and political thinking on these pages, as well as in my podcast and blog. Feel free to contact me at aura.salla(a)eduskunta.fi.
My values
My goal is to work for more united and a better-functioning European Union in order to build a stronger Europe for everyone.
In my opinion, the EU needs to focus on economic, foreign and security policy and the challenges of climate change.
I am a center-right liberal. Western values – democracy, rule of law, equality and human rights – are the foundation of my political thinking.