Climate Action in Times of Crisis - A Conversation with Frans Timmermans, EU Commission Executive VP

Join SAIS Dean James Steinberg for a conversation with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans. The conversation will focus on the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the ongoing energy crisis.

Frans Timmermans was born on May 1961. He is a Dutch diplomat and politician who currently serves as the first Executive Vice President of the European Commission. Since 2014, he has served as the European Commissioner for the portfolio of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, Rule of Law, and Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Juncker Commission.  Timmermans previously worked in the Dutch Civil Service (1987-1998), as a member of the House of Representatives for the Labor Party (1998-2007; 2010-2012), as Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs charged with European Affairs (2007-2010) and as Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012-2014).

From 1995-1998, Timmermans served as a Senior Advisor and Private Secretary to the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the OSCE, Max van der Stoel and from 1994-1995, as a staff member for the EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek. In 1993 and 1994, Timmermans worked as Deputy Head of the Minister for Development Cooperation’s EC Affairs Section. In 1990 and 1993, he served as the Deputy Secretary of the Dutch Embassy in Moscow. From 1987-1990, he served as Policy Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between 1980-1985, Timmermans graduated with a degree in French language and literature from Radboud University in Nijmegen. From 1984-1985, he pursued postgraduate courses in European Law and French Literature at the University of Nancy. Timmermans is married with four children.