Michel BARNIER

Bio

Michel Barnier was involved very early in the Gaullist party in his native region of Savoy. First elected as member of the parliament before becoming senator. He also was elected President of Savoy during 17 years and spent 10 years organising the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympic Games, with Jean-Claude Killy.

He served as a member of the French government on four occasions: Minister of Environment (1993-1995), Minister of European Affairs (1995-1997), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004-2005) and finally Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (2007-2009).

Michel Barnier was twice European Commissioner, first from 1999 to 2004 in charge of regional policy and institutional reform, then from 2010 to 2014 in charge of the internal market and services. In 2015, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, appointed him as special Advisor for Security and Defense. In 2016, he became the European Union's Chief Negotiator for the implementation of the Brexit.

Michel Barnier has published several books: Chacun pour tous, le défi écologique, éditions Stock 1990; L'Atlas mondial des risques majeurs, éditions Plon 1992; L'Atlas pour un monde durable, éditions Acropole 2007; Qui va nourrir le monde?, éditions Acropole 2008; and, most recently, My secret brexit diary : a glorious illusion, editor polity 2021.