Name Anna Diamantopoulou | Spouse Giannis Savalanos | |
 | ||
Prime Minister George PapandreouLucas Papademos Party Panhellenic Socialist Movement Profiles | ||
Decentralized 2018 | Anna Diamantopoulou, President, DIKTIO
Interview with Anna Diamantopoulou on Vision, Rules and Leadership
Anna Diamantopoulou (Greek: Άννα Διαμαντοπούλου; born 26 February 1959 in Kozani, Greece) is President of the Greek think tank "TO DIKTIO" and former Minister of Education. She is also a former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities in the Prodi Commission, a post she held between 1999–2004.
Contents
- Decentralized 2018 Anna Diamantopoulou President DIKTIO
- Interview with Anna Diamantopoulou on Vision Rules and Leadership
- Career
- Political career
- Europe
- References
Career
A civil engineer by training, Diamantopoulou's political career began in 1984, when she was appointed as a Prefects of Kastoria. Two years later (1986), she was appointed as Secretary General for Adult Education and later for Youth. She was appointed President of the Hellenic Organization of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Handicraft (EOMMEX) in 1993 and left the position to become Secretary General for Industry.
Political career
Anna Diamantopoulou's parliamentary career began in 1996 when she was elected to represent the district of Kozani. She was appointed as Deputy Minister for Development in charge of privatisation and industrial restructuring, a position she left in order to become a European Commissioner.
On 4 October 2009 she was re-elected as a Member of Parliament and served as Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs in the cabinet of George Papandreou. In her capacity as education minister, Diamantopoulou cited diminishing tertiary-education enrolments as justification for the abolition of minimum academic requirements for undergraduate admission which had long been suggested by the academic community and recently introduced by the state to ensure higher standards. This measure helped save failing low-ranking institutions such as the TEI of Western Macedonia in her former constituency, as it enabled them to broaden recruitment by admitting students from the lowest percentiles of the nationwide examination rankings. In response to criticism that her policy was diluting academic standards for populist purposes, Diamantopoulou replied that 'in the past, failed applicants would go to private [tertiary] institutions and abroad' anyway.
Diamantopoulou declares herself a firm believer in Greece's ability to join the frontrunning countries in the knowledge economy by 2020. She is the author of a book called 'Exipni Ellada' (Intelligent Greece) which outlines the need for innovation, goal-oriented endeavours and professional approaches as the key prerequisites for social and economic progress.
Europe
Diamantopoulou has been very active in European affairs both from her position at the European Commission and since her return to Greece. A champion of women's issues and a staunch supporter of stronger, more competitive Europe, Anna Diamantopoulou continuously stresses the importance of balancing economic efficiency with social justice. She is among the most prominent political personalities of Europe.