Kyösti Virrankoski

Kyösti Tapio Virrankoski (born 4 April 1944 in Kauhava) is a Finnish politician, member of the Finnish parliament and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) with the Centre Party of Finland, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and its Committee on Budgetary Control and the Committee on Budgets.

Personal life
His parents were Väinö Antti Virrankoski (1906–69) and Impi Irja Ireene Virrankoski (Kleemola) (1906–92). He was the last of 5 children. His oldest brother, Antti Aimo Kullervo Virrankoski (1927–92) was the municipal chairman of Lapua. He is married and has 3 children.

Education

 * 1972: Bachelor's degree in philosophy from Helsinki University.

Career

 * 1968-1974: Teacher of mathematics and natural sciences
 * 1987-1991 and 1995-1996: lecturer in mathematics (1974–1983)
 * political secretary to the Defence Minister
 * 1973-2000: Member of the Kauhava municipal and subsequently town council
 * 1977-1989: Member of the Kauhava municipal and subsequently town executive
 * 1990-1999: Chairman of the Kauhava town council
 * 1993-2000: Chairman of the Southern Bothnia Regional Council
 * 1991-1995: Member of Parliament
 * 1994-1995: Member of Finland's delegation to the Nordic Council
 * 1996-2009: Member of the European Parliament
 * posts held at the European Parliament
 * 2004-2009: Member of the Temporary Committee on Policy Challenges and Budgetary Means of the Enlarged Union
 * 1996-1999: Member of the Delegation for Relations with the Mashreq countries
 * 1999-2001: Member of the Delegation for Relations with Estonia
 * 2001-2004: Member of the Delegation for Relations with Romania