Dubravka Šuica

Dubravka Šuica, born on May twentieth, nineteen fifty-seven, is a prominent Croatian politician affiliated with the centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). She has held significant positions within the European Commission, serving as Vice-President and Commissioner for Democracy and Demography from two thousand nineteen to two thousand twenty-four. Following this role, she was appointed as the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean in the Von der Leyen Commission II starting in December two thousand twenty-four.

Šuica's political career is marked by her groundbreaking tenure as the first female mayor of Dubrovnik, a position she held for two consecutive terms from two thousand one to two thousand nine. Her leadership in this role made her one of the first female mayors of major Croatian cities in the modern era. Additionally, she served three terms as a member of the Croatian Parliament from two thousand one to two thousand eleven, showcasing her commitment to public service.

Her influence extends beyond national politics; since two thousand four, she has been elected five times as vice-president of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. In October two thousand twelve, she was elected vice-president of the EPP Women's association, and in June two thousand nineteen, she took on the role of vice-president of the EPP's EU parliament group, further solidifying her leadership within European political structures.