Eurocommissaris Liikanen per 12 juli president van de Finse Centrale Bank (en)

Finnish Commissioner Erkki Liikanen has been appointed Governor of the Bank of Finland and is to step down as the EU's enterprise guru.

He is scheduled to assume his duties in Helsinki on 12 July.

Mr Liikanen's term as Commissioner for Industry and Information Society formally should have finished at the end of October.

The decision does not come as a surprise as Mr Liikanen (Social Democratic party) was said to have wanted to apply for the post only if he was sure that he would be chosen.

The most important duty for the new governor will be the task to attend the European Central Bank governing council.

The term as governor is set to last seven years. Mr Liikanen been EU commissioner since 1995.