Prof. Günter Verheugen

Günter Verheugen is one of the most prominent foreign policy experts in Germany. He was a member of the EU Commission until 2010. After working in journalism and as head of department in ministries in Bonn, Verheugen became Secretary General of the FDP in 1978. In protest against the FDP's withdrawal from the social-liberal coalition, he switched to the SPD in 1982. He was a member of the German Bundestag from 1983 to 1999. Among other things, he was Federal Managing Director of the SPD and Deputy Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group. In 1998, he became Minister of State for European Affairs in the first Schröder cabinet. During his first term of office as a member of the EU Commission (1999-2004), he was responsible for EU enlargement. In his second term (2004-2010), he was Vice-President of the EU Commission, responsible for enterprise and industry. From 2007 to 2010, he was also European Chairman of the Transatlantic Economic Council. Günter Verheugen has a wide range of experience and contacts in all aspects of European politics, foreign and security policy.