Elżbieta Bieńkowska

Elżbieta Bieńkowska
European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 November 2014
President	Jean-Claude Juncker
Preceded by	Michel Barnier (Internal Market and Services) Ferdinando Nelli Feroci (Industry and Entrepreneurship)
Deputy Prime Minister of Poland
In office 27 November 2013 – 22 September 2014
Prime Minister	Donald Tusk
Preceded by	Jacek Rostowski
Succeeded by	Tomasz Siemoniak
Minister of Infrastructure and Development
In office 27 November 2013 – 22 September 2014
Prime Minister	Donald Tusk
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Maria Wasiak
Minister of Regional Development
In office 16 November 2007 – 27 November 2013
Prime Minister	Donald Tusk
Preceded by	Grażyna Gęsicka
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	(1964-02-04) 4 February 1964 Katowice, Poland
Political party	Civic Platform
Spouse(s)	Artur Bieńkowski
Children	2 daughters 1 son
Alma mater	Jagiellonian University Polish National School of Public Administration Warsaw School of Economics

Elżbieta Bieńkowska (Polish pronunciation: [ɛlʐˈbʲiɛta bʲiɛɲˈkɔfska]) née Moycho, born on 4 February 1964 at Katowice in Silesia, is a Polish politician who served as a Polish Government Minister (styled in (Polish): wicepremier, minister rozwoju regionalnego i transportu) before being nominated as European Commissioner by Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014.

Bieńkowska was Minister of Regional Development in Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Cabinet from 16 November 2007 until 27 November 2013, when she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Poland while continuing her previous responsibilities at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development.

Education

Bieńkowska graduated from Jagiellonian University with a Master's degree in Oriental Philology in 1989. She has also received a post-graduate Diploma from the Polish National School of Public Administration and afterwards a postgraduate studies MBA from Warsaw School of Economics.

Professional career

Bieńkowska's career in public administration started at Katowice City Council where she worked on regional contracts being promoted, in 1999, as head of Katowice's Department for Economy. Later that year, she was appointed Director of Regional Development for the Province of Silesia, where she served until 2007.

Career in politics

Bieńkowska served as Minister for Infrastructure and Development for Poland, as well as Deputy Prime Minister from the end of 2013 until October 2013, before taking office as a European Commissioner. She describes herself as a technocrat.

On 10 September 2014, Juncker designated her as European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, following which, on 1 November 2014, she took office in the Juncker Commission. In 2015 she became one of anti heroes of huge affair in Poland, so called "wiretapping gate" [1](Polish). Her recoded conversations showed complete disregard for people she represents and offices she holds. This scandal effectively sank her career in Poland.

Honours and decorations

• - Commander (with Sash), Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
• - Fire Service Medal (Gold), Katowice

See also

• Bieńkowski coat of arms

External links

• www.premier.gov.pl
• www.elections2014.eu
• Bieńkowski / Princess Radziwiłł marriage
• www.fakt.pl

Political offices
Preceded by Grażyna Gęsicka	Minister of Regional Development 2007–2013	Position abolished
Preceded by Jacek Rostowski	Deputy Prime Minister of Poland 2013–2014	Succeeded by Tomasz Siemoniak
New office	Minister of Infrastructure and Development 2013–2014	Succeeded by Maria Wasiak
Preceded by Jacek Dominik	Polish European Commissioner 2014–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Michel Barnier as European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services	European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs 2014–present
Preceded by Ferdinando Nelli Feroci as European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship