Europe in a World of Great Power Politics
hosted by Professor
Hartmut Mayer
José Manuel Durão Barroso
Former President of the European Commission and Former Prime Minister of Portugal
José Manuel Durão Barroso is former President of the European Commission where he completed two mandates between 2004 and 2014.
During his tenure, he played a crucial role in the EU's expansion from 15 to 28 member states, the approval of the Treaty of Lisbon, and the launch of the 2020 program for Climate Change and Energy Security. He also led the EU's response to the financial and sovereign debt crisis. On behalf of the European Union he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.
He's a former Prime Minister of Portugal where he served in different government positions for twelve years including in as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Secretary of State for Home Affairs.
From 2021 to 2025 he served as Chair of the Board of the GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance.
He's currently President of FLAD, Luso-American Development Foundation, President of the General Assembly of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, Chairman of the EurAfrican Forum, and Chairman of International Advisors at Goldman Sachs International in London.
His academic appointments include Visiting Professor at Georgetown University, Princeton University and the Graduate lnstitute for International Studies in Geneva. He is currently a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Portugal (Director of its Centre of European Studies) and at the European University Institute, School of Transnational Governance, Florence. He's also non-resident scholar at Princeton University, where is a member of the Advisory Council of the Liechtenstein Institute.
He published numerous political and academic works and received honorary doctorates from over thirty universities. Has been honored with high decorations from many countries, recognizing his contributions to politics and diplomacy.
José Manuel Durão Barroso graduated in Law from the University of Lisbon and completed a Master's degree in Political Science at the University of Geneva and other postgraduate degrees in European Studies.
