José Manuel Barroso

José Manuel Barroso is a Portuguese politician and academic who served as the President of the European Commission from 2004 to 2014. Prior to this, he was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 2002 to 2004 and held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1990s. A key figure in shaping modern European Union policy, his tenure oversaw the Treaty of Lisbon and the response to the European debt crisis.

Early life and education

Born in Lisbon in 1956, he studied law at the University of Lisbon before pursuing postgraduate studies in political science. He furthered his education in the United States, earning a master's degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. His academic work focused on European integration and he later taught at the Department of Political Science at his alma mater in Lisbon. During his youth, he was involved with Maoist student groups but later moved towards the political center.

Political career in Portugal

Barroso's political career began with the Social Democratic Party (PSD). He served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation before being appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1992 under Prime Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva. In this role, he was instrumental in Portugal's diplomacy during the Yugoslav Wars and the negotiation of the Maastricht Treaty. He was elected leader of the PSD in 1999 and led the party to victory in the 2002 Portuguese legislative election, becoming Prime Minister of Portugal. His government implemented austerity measures and supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, sending troops as part of the Coalition of the willing.

President of the European Commission

Nominated by the European Council and approved by the European Parliament, Barroso succeeded Romano Prodi as President of the European Commission in 2004. His first term focused on economic growth and jobs through the Lisbon Strategy and overseeing the 2004 enlargement of the European Union. He was re-appointed for a second term in 2009, with his Barroso Commission taking office after the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon. His presidency was dominated by managing the European debt crisis, coordinating responses like the European Financial Stability Facility and advocating for stricter economic governance. His tenure also saw major legislative initiatives on climate change, including the 2020 climate and energy package.

Post-Commission activities

After leaving the European Commission, Barroso joined the Goldman Sachs group as a non-executive chairman and advisor in 2016, a move that sparked controversy and an ethics investigation by the European Commission. He has held academic positions, including a professorship at Princeton University and a visiting fellowship at the University of Geneva. He serves as chairman of the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance board and is a member of several international councils, including the World Economic Forum. In 2020, he was appointed by the United Nations as a member of the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement.

Personal life

He is married to Margarida Sousa Uva, a professor of internal medicine, and they have three sons. The family resides in Lisbon and Brussels. An avid reader, Barroso has published works on political science and European Union law. He is a recipient of numerous national honors, including Portugal's Order of Christ and the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry.