Katarina Barley

Katarina Barley, born on November nineteenth, nineteen sixty-eight, is a prominent German politician and lawyer. Since two thousand nineteen, she has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament, where she holds the esteemed position of Vice-President. Her political journey includes significant roles in the German government, notably as the Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection in Angela Merkel's fourth cabinet.

Before her tenure as Minister of Justice, Barley was the Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. She also took on the responsibilities of acting Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from September twenty-eight, two thousand seventeen, until March fourteen, two thousand eighteen. Her commitment to public service is evident through her various roles within the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

Barley’s political career in the Bundestag spanned from two thousand thirteen to two thousand nineteen, during which she served as Secretary-General of her party from two thousand fifteen to two thousand seventeen. Her academic background is impressive, holding law degrees from both France and Germany, along with a doctorate in European law.

Prior to her political career, she gained valuable experience as a corporate lawyer at the law firm Wessing & Berenberg-Gossler in Hamburg, and she has also worked as a judge and governmental legal adviser. In addition to her German citizenship, Barley holds British citizenship, reflecting her diverse background.