Changing EU-UK relations and the role the European Parliament

Talk: Changing EU-UK relations and the role the European Parliament by Leena Linnus, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK

Venue: Allen Room (First Floor), St Anne's Church, 55 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 6AF at 3 p.m. on 17 September 2026

BREXIT was realised when the UK formally departed the EU on 31 January 2020, marking the end of its 47-year membership. Its departure was far from smooth and left open huge questions about the nature of its future relationship with the EU. Some agreements on co-operation in specific areas have been reached and others are being sought. Where this will all lead to strategically is unclear; all we can be sure of is that the relationship in the immediate aftermath of Brexit is evolving.

Leena will talk about the change in EU-UK relations and the role that the European Parliament is playing in it.

About Leena Linnus

Based in London, Leena was appointed on 1 July 2025 to head the European Parliament Liaison Office. Her role is to steer the Office in its role of representing the European Parliament in the UK, liaison with the Westminster and devolved parliaments and engagement with the public and civil society, be they British or EU citizens based in the UK.

Prior to her current appointment, Leena had progressed her career over almost 30 years in various roles in the European Parliament. Until 2025, she served as the Director-General for Infrastructure and Logistics for 10 years, during which time she led an overall reform of the Directorate-General of almost 700 staff members, with the aim to provide Parliament Members and staff with appropriate, safe and secure, environmentally friendlier, accessible, creative and modern working conditions in a period of budgetary scarcity.

Her career with the European Parliament began in 1996 and over the next 9 years she progressed through a range of communications and press related positions. In 2005, she moved on to the secretariat of the Bureau and the Conference of Presidents, assisting Parliament's top political and administrative policy making, until 2007 when she became Cabinet member of the Parliament’s former Secretary-General, and in 2012, Director for Logistics.

She is multi-lingual speaking Finnish, English, Swedish and French. She is passionate about European politics and democracy, in her support of the rule of law, Trans-Atlantic co-operation, security and defence policy and support towards Ukraine and other Central Eastern European applicant countries. In her new role in London, she is very much looking forward to helping support a new strategic partnership between the UK and EU.

Drinks: After Leena’s talk, wine and light nibbles will be available for a small donation.

Registration: £5 (plus a small booking fee) for members of the Anglo-Finnish Society and the other Anglo-Nordic Societies. £10 for non-members. (When booking, please provide names of all attendees which can also be emailed to secretary@anglofinnishsociety.org.uk)