Vice - President of the European Parliament

H.E. Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou was born in Greece at the isle of Zakynthos at the Ionian sea, a crossroad of diverse influences and cultures due to historical reasons. She studied Sociology, specialising in political sociology, at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Her postgraduate studies followed at the Institute of European Studies of the same University.

Elected Member of the European Parliament for three consecutive terms since 1999 and European Parliament Vice-President in 2007 and in 2009, she is seen primarily as a politician of values, ideals and initiatives, a woman with european and international vision, as proven through her multifaceted course and activity.

She has always been active for the advancement of the european integration and the enhancement of Europe's international role. An active Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President for two terms in a row, with effective and dynamic action in Brussels and Strasbourg, she has successfully handled and brought forward a number of challenging issues on economic and monetary affairs, women’s rights and gender equality, regional cohesion, maritime affairs and communication policy.

Moreover, she has a dynamic international presence, representing the European Parliament in official visits to Gulf, Asian and Latin American countries, participating in numerous European Parliament delegations worldwide and in international fora, promoting closer cooperation between the European Union and the rest of the world as well as involvement in economic governance, intercultural dialogue, peace and security, education and development programmes. Rodi Kratsa is also founding member or president of several european associations. For her action, she has received a number of honorary distinctions from governments, international organisations and the civil society in different countries.