European Commission

Profile

I was appointed Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Institutional Relations and Communication in August 2004. President Barroso created this post in order to improve the way we communicate 'Europe' to citizens. From 1999 till 2004, I served as Environment Commissioner in the Prodi Commission.

Before dedicating myself to the European Union, I have spent most of my professional life being active in Swedish politics. From 1979 till 1985, I was Member of the Swedish Parliament. In 1988, I became Minister of Civil Affairs responsible for Consumer, Women and Youth matters and held this post for four years. In 1994, I was appointed Minister of Culture for two years and then Minister of Social Affairs for another two years.

Communications also played a key part in my career. From 1993 till 1994 I worked as CEO of TV Värmland, a Swedish Regional TV network. Between 1998 and 1999, I lived in Colombo (Sri Lanka) and worked as Executive Vice-President of Worldview Global Media.

I was born in Sweden on 28 September 1954 and graduated from high school in 1973.

I am married and have two children.