Jens Nilsson has been Member of the European Parliament since 2011. His from the Jämtland Region of northern Sweden and represents the Swedish Social Democratic Party. In the new legislature Jens sits as a full member on the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and a full member on the Committee on Regional Development (REGI). He is also member of the Delegation for Relations with Belarus and a substitute member of Delegation to the EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He led the campaign for the reestablishment of the Social Economy Intergroup and currently serves as one of its co-presidents.

Prior to becoming an MEP, Mr Nilsson was Mayor of the city of Östersund 1994-2010 and the President of the Social Democratic Party in Jämtland County 2007-2012.

He was a member of the EU’s Committee of the Regions 1999-2010 and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe 2007-2010.

Before becoming a politician he worked as an ombudsman and communicator.

With a longstanding interest in regional and European cooperation, Jens has started and participated actively in several organisations and networks. He was the first Chair of the Northern Sparsely Populated Areas Network (NSPA) and has also chaired the European Forum for Northern Sweden. Furthermore, he initiated the European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy (REVES), and was its first President during 1997-2001.