Dimitrios Droutsas
Encyclopedia
Dimitrios P. Droutsas is a Greek lawyer and politician, who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece in 2010–2011. He became MP of the European Parliament
by replacing the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Stavros Lambrinidis
.
, Cyprus
. In 1994, he graduated from University of Vienna
School of Law. After graduation, he worked as an assistant professor of European Law at the European Affairs Research Centre of Vienna University of Economics and Business
. At the same time, Droutsas was a legal advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria
Wolfgang Schüssel
from 1998 through 1999.
. Among the important issues, he advised on were political rapprochement with Turkey, Cyprus’s accession to the EU
and the Cyprus problem.
In March 2004, he was appointed the Director of the Diplomatic Cabinet of the President of Panhellenic Socialist Movement
(Pasok) George A. Papandreou. From March 2008, he served as the spokesperson of Pasok and in May 2008, he was appointed its Secretary for Foreign Policy and International Relations. On September 7, 2010, Droutsas was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece in a cabinet reshuffle. His first tour as a foreign minister was to the Middle East from October 17 to October 20 with stops in Jordan, Israel and Paletinian territories, Egypt and Lebanon. In the 17 June 2011 cabinet reshuffle, Droutsas was replaced as Foreign Minister by Stavros Lambrinidis
, with whom he swapped places: since that date Droutsas is Member of the European Parliament.
Droutsas' works on European Law, International and European Commercial Law, and Foreign and Defense Policy have been published extensively in Greece and abroad.
He speaks German
, English
, French
and Russian
.
He is married to Faye Karaviti who is a journalist.
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
by replacing the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Stavros Lambrinidis
Stavros Lambrinidis
Stavros Lambrinidis is a former Vice President of the European Parliament and was between 17 June 2011 until 11 November 2011 the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece.-Yale University:...
.
Early life
Droutsas was born on August 5, 1968 in NicosiaNicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. In 1994, he graduated from University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
School of Law. After graduation, he worked as an assistant professor of European Law at the European Affairs Research Centre of Vienna University of Economics and Business
Vienna University of Economics and Business
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien or Vienna University of Economics and Business is the largest University focusing on business and economics in Europe and, in terms of student body, one of the largest universities in Austria...
. At the same time, Droutsas was a legal advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria
Foreign Minister of Austria
The Foreign Minister of Austria is responsible for handling Austria's foreign policy.-Under the First Austrian Republic:* Victor Adler* Otto Bauer* Karl Renner* Michael Mayr* Johann Schober* Walter Breisky* Leopold Hennet* Alfred Grünberger...
Wolfgang Schüssel
Wolfgang Schüssel
Wolfgang Schüssel is an Austrian People's Party politician. He was Chancellor of Austria for two consecutive terms from February 2000 to January 2007...
from 1998 through 1999.
Political career
In 1999, Droutsas went back to Greece to serve as the Special Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, George PapandreouGeorge Papandreou
Georgios A. Papandreou , commonly anglicised to George and shortened to Γιώργος in Greek, is a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece following his party's victory in the 2009 legislative election...
. Among the important issues, he advised on were political rapprochement with Turkey, Cyprus’s accession to the EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and the Cyprus problem.
In March 2004, he was appointed the Director of the Diplomatic Cabinet of the President of Panhellenic Socialist Movement
Panhellenic Socialist Movement
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement , known mostly by its acronym PASOK , is one of the two major political parties in Greece. Founded on 3 September 1974 by Andreas Papandreou, in 1981 PASOK became Greece's first social democratic party to win a majority in parliament.The party is a socialist party...
(Pasok) George A. Papandreou. From March 2008, he served as the spokesperson of Pasok and in May 2008, he was appointed its Secretary for Foreign Policy and International Relations. On September 7, 2010, Droutsas was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece in a cabinet reshuffle. His first tour as a foreign minister was to the Middle East from October 17 to October 20 with stops in Jordan, Israel and Paletinian territories, Egypt and Lebanon. In the 17 June 2011 cabinet reshuffle, Droutsas was replaced as Foreign Minister by Stavros Lambrinidis
Stavros Lambrinidis
Stavros Lambrinidis is a former Vice President of the European Parliament and was between 17 June 2011 until 11 November 2011 the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece.-Yale University:...
, with whom he swapped places: since that date Droutsas is Member of the European Parliament.
Droutsas' works on European Law, International and European Commercial Law, and Foreign and Defense Policy have been published extensively in Greece and abroad.
He speaks German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
.
He is married to Faye Karaviti who is a journalist.