Political career:
Kanerva is a member of the National Coalition Party and the European People’s Party (EPP). Kanerva was leader of his party’s youth organisation from 1972 to 1976. He was first elected to the Finnish Parliament in 1975. He is today the longest standing Member of Parliament. He has extensive experience in foreign affairs and defence matters.
Minister for Foreign Affairs 2007-2008
Deputy Speaker of Parliament 2003-2007
Deputy Prime Minister 1991
Minister of Labour 1991-1995
Minister of Transport 1990-1991
Minister at the Ministry of Finance 1987-1995
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office 1987-1990
Chair of the Parliamentary Defence Committee 1999-2003; 2015-
Chair of the Parliamentary Security and Defence Reflecting Group 2012-2013
Chair of the Parliamentary Assessment Group on Defence 2013-2014
Chair of the Finnish Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly since 2003
OSCE career:
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office 2008
President Emeritus and Special Representative on Mediation of the OSCE PA 2016-
President of the OSCE PA 2014-2016
Vice-President of the OSCE PA 2013-2014
Chair of the Finnish Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 2003-2007 and 2008-2015
Member of the Finnish Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 2015-
Member of the OSCE PA ad hoc Working Group on Rules 2013
Co-chair of the working group for the Helsinki +40 process 2013-2015
Special co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term election observation mission to Russian Federation in 2016
Leader of the OSCE PA election observation missions to Georgia in 2013 and to Ukraine in 2014
Other:
Council member of the International Association of the Athletics Federations (IAAF) 2003-2011
Vice-President of the Finnish Olympic Committee 1993-2008
