Marija Pejčinović Burić

Marija Pejčinović Burić is a Croatian politician and diplomat who has served as the Secretary General of the Council of Europe since 2019. She is the first person from Croatia and the second woman to hold this position, following her election by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Prior to this, she held several high-ranking positions in the Government of Croatia, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.

Early life and education

Marija Pejčinović Burić was born on 9 April 1963 in Mostar, then part of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. She completed her secondary education in Zagreb before pursuing higher studies at the University of Zagreb. There, she graduated from the Faculty of Economics, earning a degree in international economics. Her academic background provided a foundation for her future career in diplomacy and international relations.

Political career

Pejčinović Burić began her political career as a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). She served as a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2000 to 2004, where she was active on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Following her parliamentary tenure, she held significant roles in international organizations, including as a Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council in Sarajevo. She returned to national politics and was appointed Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and concurrently Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet of Andrej Plenković in June 2017. During her tenure, she focused on strengthening Croatia's role within the European Union and NATO, and oversaw the country's presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2020.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe

On 26 June 2019, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe elected Marija Pejčinović Burić as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, defeating the incumbent Thorbjørn Jagland. She assumed office on 18 September 2019 for a five-year term. Her mandate has been marked by a strong focus on defending the core principles of the Council of Europe, including the protection of the European Convention on Human Rights, the authority of the European Court of Human Rights, and the promotion of rule of law across the continent. Key challenges during her tenure have included managing relations with member states such as the Russian Federation and Turkey, and addressing democratic backsliding in several jurisdictions.

Other activities and memberships

Beyond her governmental and international roles, Pejčinović Burić has been involved with various professional and advisory bodies. She has served on the boards of institutions like the Atlantic Council of Croatia and has been a member of the Croatian Atlantic Council. Her expertise in foreign policy and European integration has also led to roles as a guest lecturer at academic institutions, including the University of Zagreb and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. She is a frequent participant in major international forums such as the Munich Security Conference and the World Economic Forum.

Personal life

Marija Pejčinović Burić is married to Igor Burić, a professor at the University of Zagreb. The couple has two children. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, in addition to her native Croatian. Her personal interests include literature, history, and classical music.

Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Croatian politicians Category:Secretaries General of the Council of Europe Category:Members of the Croatian Parliament Category:Croatian Democratic Union politicians