Kalniete, Sandra (1952 - )
Latvian commissioner Between 1 May 2004 and 22 November 2004. (1999-2004 in the Prodi Commision and shadowed Commissioner Fischler in agriculture and fishery policy. Born in Siberia where her parents were deported after the Soviet occupation in 1941, Sandra Kalniete made her name fighting for her country's independence at the beginning of the 1990s. Originally she is an art historian, but graduated also from international affairs at University of Geneva. Her political career began in the Latvian Popular Front, where she was general secretary. Later she served her country as ambassador to United Nation and France, finally in 2002 she became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her autobiography, "With Dancing Shoes in Siberian Snow" has been nominated for book of the year by Elle magazine. She will shadow the Franz Fischler's Agriculture and Fisheries portfolio.
Links
Prodi Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_1999_2004/index_en.htm
Kalniete's personal page: http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_1999_2004/kalniete/index_en.htm
