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Janez Potočnik

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Janez Potočnik
NameJanez Potočnik
OfficeEuropean Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation
Term start2010
Term end2014
PresidentJosé Manuel Barroso
Office2European Commissioner for Environment
Term start22004
Term end22010
President2José Manuel Barroso
Predecessor2Margot Wallström
Successor2Stavros Dimas
Office3Minister of European Affairs
Term start32002
Term end32004
Primeminister3Anton Rop
Predecessor3Igor Bavčar
Successor3Milan M. Cvikl
Birth date22 March 1958
Birth placeKranj, Socialist Republic of Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySlovenian
Alma materUniversity of Ljubljana (BSc, MSc, PhD)
PartyLiberal Democracy of Slovenia
ProfessionEconomist

Janez Potočnik is a Slovenian economist and politician who served as a prominent member of the European Commission for a decade. He first held the portfolio of European Commissioner for Environment before transitioning to become the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation. Throughout his career, he has been a leading international advocate for sustainable development and the circular economy, influencing major European Union policies and global environmental discourse.

Early life and education

Born in Kranj, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he pursued his higher education at the University of Ljubljana. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, followed by a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in the same field. His doctoral thesis focused on the macroeconomic modeling of Slovenia's economy during its transition period, laying an academic foundation for his future policy work.

Career in Slovenia

His early professional career was spent at the Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development in Ljubljana, where he eventually became the Director. He played a crucial role in shaping Slovenia's economic policies during the 1990s, including its accession to the World Trade Organization. In 2002, he entered government as the Minister for European Affairs under Prime Minister Anton Rop, where he was instrumental in leading Slovenia's successful negotiations for accession to the European Union and NATO.

European Commissioner for Environment

Appointed as the European Commissioner for Environment in 2004 under the presidency of José Manuel Barroso, he served until 2010. During his tenure, he championed the integration of environmental concerns into all European Union policies. He was a key architect of major legislative packages, including the REACH regulation on chemicals, the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. He also strongly advocated for international action on climate change, representing the European Commission at conferences of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation

In 2010, he was reassigned within the Barroso Commission to the portfolio of European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation. In this role, he was responsible for shaping the European Union's research and innovation policy, most notably overseeing the final stages of the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and the design and launch of its successor, the Horizon 2020 framework program. He consistently argued for increased research funding as a driver for a competitive and sustainable European economy.

Post-Commission career and advocacy

After leaving the European Commission in 2014, he has focused extensively on global sustainability advocacy. He co-chaired the International Resource Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme and served as a member of the European Policy Centre's advisory council. He is a founding partner of the Think2030 platform and a prominent voice in think tanks like the Club of Rome. His work continues to promote the circular economy model, advising governments, including the People's Republic of China, and institutions like the World Economic Forum.

Awards and recognition

He has received numerous accolades for his contributions to environmental policy and sustainable development. These include the United Nations' Champion of the Earth award in 2013 and the European Environmental Bureau's award for "Best European Commissioner for the Environment." He has also been honored with Slovenia's Golden Order for Services and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Antwerp for his work on resource efficiency.

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Slovenian economists Category:European Commissioners from Slovenia Category:Slovenian Ministers of European Affairs Category:University of Ljubljana alumni Category:Members of the Club of Rome