Roxana Mînzatu (Romanian pronunciation: [roˈksana mɨnˈzatu]; born 1 April 1980) is a Romanian politician, local government official and manager of European Union projects in Romania. In 2016, she was elected to the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and in 2019, was appointed as Minister of European Funds. In 2024 she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament. Since December 2024 she serves as Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Skills, Education, Quality Jobs and Social Rights under the Second Von der Leyen Commission.

Roxana Mînzatu
Official portrait, 2024
Member of the European Parliament
for Romania
In office
16 July 2024 – 30 November 2024
Succeeded byTBD
Secretary of State for Programs Financed by Public and European Funds
In office
3 May 2022 – 15 July 2024
Prime MinisterNicolae Ciucă
Marcel Ciolacu
MinisterMarcel Boloș
Adrian Câciu
Minister of European Funds
In office
7 June 2019 – 4 November 2019
Prime MinisterViorica Dăncilă
Preceded byRovana Plumb
Succeeded byMarcel Boloș
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office
20 December 2016 – 6 December 2020
ConstituencyBrașov County
Personal details
Born (1980-04-01) 1 April 1980 (age 44)
Brașov, Romania
Political partySocial Democratic Party (2000–present)
Alma materUniversity of Bucharest
OccupationPolitical scientistPolitician

Early life and education

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Mînzatu was born on 1 April 1980 in Brașov. She obtained a BA in political science in 2002 from the University of Bucharest and an MA in European integration in 2005, from the Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University. From 2004 to 2006, she was employed at the Ministry of European Integration. She later worked as a manager and consultant for several projects, particularly those financed by the European Union. Her activities also included running a non-profit business school.[1][2]

Political career

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Mînzatu became involved in local political activities within the Social Democratic Party (PSD). She was a member of the Brasov district council (2004–2008, 2011–2012, 2016). In 2015, she was appointed Secretary of State at the Ministry of European Funds, and then headed the National Agency for Public Procurement (ANAP).[1][2]

In 2016, Mînzatu was elected to the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, where she became secretary of the Committee for Industries and Services and a member of the Committee for European Affairs. In June 2019 she was appointed as Minister for European Funds in the government of Viorica Dăncilă, with the particular aim of accelerating development in key sectors, such as water and waste water infrastructure and digitalization. However, the government was ousted in October of the same year following a vote of no confidence. She was not a candidate in the 2020 national election and returned to business activities until she was elected in the 2024 European Parliament elections, when her party formed an alliance with the National Liberal Party (PNL). In the parliament she became part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats grouping and a member of the Committee on Regional Development.[1][2][3][4][5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Roxana Mînzatu" (PDF). Government of Romania. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Roxana Mînzatu". Vital Voices. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Roxana Mînzatu". Chamber of Deputies, Romania. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Cine sunt cei 33 de europarlamentari români care merg la Bruxelles. Printre ei, Șoșoacă, independentul Nicu Ștefănuță, dar și grei ai PSD și PNL Citeşte întreaga ştire: Cine sunt cei 33 de europarlamentari români care merg la Bruxelles. Printre ei, Șoșoacă, independentul Nicu Ștefănuță, dar și grei ai PSD și PNL". Libertatea. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Roxana Mînzatu". European Parliament. Retrieved 23 July 2024.