Catherine Colonna, minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs [fr]

Catherine Colonna was born on 16 April 1956 in Tours (Indre-et-Loire).
Catherine Colonna holds a master’s degree in Public Law (1977) and a postgraduate in Public Law (1978). She holds a degree from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) (Public Service Section, 1980) and is a graduate of the National School of Administration (ENA) (“Solidarité” year, 1981-1983).

She started her diplomatic career in 1983 at the French Embassy in Washington (1983-1986), then was responsible for European issues and economic law in the Legal Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1986-1988).

From 1988 to 1989, Catherine Colonna was an adviser in the Private Office of the Ministre d’Etat, Minister of Public Works and Housing, and from 1989 to 1990, a special assistant for European Affairs in the Policy Planning Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From 1990 to 1993, she was head of the Press Department in the Press, Information and Communication Directorate, then from 1993 to 1995, deputy spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From 1995 to 2004, she was spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic.

From 2004 to 2005, she was director-general of the French National Centre for Cinematography (CNC) and vice-president of the Cannes Film Festival.

From 2005 to 2007, Catherine Colonna was Minister Delegate for European Affairs.

From 2008 to 2010, she was Permanent Delegate of France to UNESCO.

From 2010 to 2014, she worked as a managing partner in the Paris Office of the Brunswick Group.

From 2014 to 2017, Catherine Colonna was French Ambassador to Italy and San Marino.

From 2017 to 2019, she was the Permanent Representative of France to UNESCO.

From September 2019 to May 2022, Catherine Colonna was French Ambassador to the United Kingdom before being appointed Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs on 20 May 2022.

Catherine Colonna is an Officier of the Légion d’Honneur, Officier of the Ordre du Mérite, and Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres. She was elevated to the rank of Ambassadrice de France in November 2020.

Clément Beaune holds a degree from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) and the Bruges College of Europe (“Montesquieu” year). He is a graduate of the National School of Administration (ENA) (“Willy Brandt” year).
After leaving ENA in 2009, Clément Beaune joined the Budget Directorate as deputy head of the Finance Acts Bureau.

In 2011, he became deputy head of the Research and Higher Education Bureau.

From 2013 to 2014, Clément Beaune was a technical advisor (budget) to the Prime Minister.

From 2014 to 2016, he was advisor for European, international and budgetary affairs to the Minister of the Economy, Industry and the Digital Sector.

From 2016 to 2017, he was Deputy CEO of ADP Management.

From 2017 to 2020, Clément Beaune was special advisor for Europe to the Presidency of the Republic.

From 2020 to 2022, Clément Beaune was Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. In May 2022, he was appointed Minister Delegate for Europe attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Franck Riester was born in Paris (15th arrondissement) on 3 January 1974.

• University education
  Graduate of ISG Business School
  Master’s in local government from ESSEC Business School

• Professional Experience
  Consultant at Arthur Andersen’s Private Office (1998-1999)
  Chief Executive of Riester SA Peugeot dealerships (since 2000)

• Electoral mandates and ministerial positions
  Municipal Councillor for Coulommiers (1995 to 2001)
  Deputy Mayor of Coulommiers (2001 to 2008)
  National Assembly Deputy for the 5th constituency of Seine-et-Marne (2007-2018)
  Mayor of Coulommiers (2008-2017)
  Member of the Cultural Affairs and Education Committee at the French National Assembly (since 2009)
  Co-chair of the UDI, Agir et Indépendants Group at the French National Assembly (2017-2018)
  Municipal Councillor (since 2017)
  Minister of Culture (2018-2020)
  Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (2020-2022)
  Since May 2022, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Chrysoula Zacharopoulou is a medical doctor.

Born in Sparta (Greece) in 1976, she holds both French and Greek nationalities and is a graduate of Sapienza University in Rome, as well as holding a PhD on endometriosis. She arrived in France in 2007, practicing as a gynaecological surgeon at Bégin Military Hospital.

As a defender of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, she founded the “Info-Endométriose” association alongside actor Julie Gayet. In 2016, she launched the first national awareness campaign about this little-known disease, aimed at both health professionals and the public.

She was elected to the European Parliament in 2019 and became a Vice-Chair of its Committee on Development.

Ahead of the European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels, she was selected as the European Parliament’s rapporteur for the drafting of the new EU-Africa strategy, holding broad consultations in several African countries to produce tangible recommendations to build a lasting, inclusive partnership between the two continents.

As both an MEP and a doctor, she worked to ensure an inclusive international response to COVID-19. In April 2021, she was elected Co-Chair of the COVAX Facility Shareholders Council, which includes 65 countries, advocating for equitable access to vaccines and for stepping up vaccination campaigns for poor countries.

In the European Parliament, she also worked to defend the right of women and girls to make decisions governing their own bodies, to fight all forms of violence against them, and for an ambitious, feminist European foreign policy. She was appointed rapporteur for the third Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Relations (GAP III).

At the request of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, she produced a report and proposals in 2021 in order to improve diagnosis and recognition of endometriosis and fully commit to research into the disease. This work, produced in consultation with all stakeholders, formed the basis of the first national strategy to fight endometriosis, of which she spearheaded the drafting.

In May 2022, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou was appointed Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Chrysoula Zacharopoulou was appointed a Chevalier in the National Order of Merit in 2017.