Global Meeting 2012
Speakers

Viviane REDING

Vice-President

European Commission

Biography:

Viviane Reding is a politician from Luxembourg. 

In 1989, Ms Reding was elected Member of the European Parliament, for two terms. In 1999, Ms Reding was appointed European Commissioner for Luxembourg under President Romano Prodi. For five years, she was in charge of Education, Culture, Media and Sports. In 2004, Ms Reding was re-appointed for a second term to the European Commission under President José Manuel Barroso. Her new and enhanced responsibility included Information Society and Media. In 2010, Ms Reding was nominated for a third mandate in the European Commission. She became Vice-President responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Viviane Reding has a doctorate in Human Sciences from the Sorbonne University, is holder of the Prince of Asturias International Cooperation Prize 2004 and is an Officer of the National Order of the French Legion of Honour since 2005. In 2007, the newspaper European Voice named her “Commissioner of the Year”. She received the German “Mittelstandspreis” in 2007 and the BeNeLux Europa Prize 2010.

Company profile:

The European Commission is the EU’s executive organ. It represents and upholds the interests of Europe as a whole. It drafts proposals for new European laws, which it presents to the European Parliament and the Council. It manages the day-to-day business of implementing EU policies and spending EU funds. The Commission also makes sure that everyone abides by the European treaties and laws. It can act against rule-breakers, taking them to the European Court of Justice if necessary. The Commission consists of 27 men and women — one from each EU country. They are assisted by about 24,000 civil servants, most of whom work in Brussels.