Giorgos Papakonstantinou
Encyclopedia
Giorgos Papakonstantinou , born October 30, 1961 in Athens, Greece, is a Greek economist and politician and the current Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change of Greece, formerly Minister for Finance. He is a member of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement
.
(LSE). He later obtained a Master of Arts in Economics from New York University and a PhD in Economics from LSE.
After his studies, he worked as a senior economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
in Paris from 1988 to 1998.
In 1998, Papakonstantinou returned to Greece and was appointed an adviser to then-Prime Minister Costas Simitis
on "information society
" issues.
Two years later, he was appointed Special Secretary for the "Information Society" at the Ministry of Economy and Finance
(2000-2002). Between 2002 and 2004 he served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisors of the Ministry of Economy and Finance
, as a board member of OTE
(Hellenic Telecommunication Organization), and as the Greek representative to the European Union's
Economic Policy Committee (EPC). In 2003 he coordinated the "Lisbon Strategy
" for economic and social reforms during the Greek Presidency of the EU
.
Between 2004 and 2007, Papaconstantinou served as economic advisor to George Papandreou, the president of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement
(PASOK). He was also a board member of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, PASOK's think tank, from 2005 to 2008.
Between 2003 and 2007, Papaconstantinou also taught economics at Department of Management Science and Technology of the Athens University of Economics and Business and advised the European Commission
on research and information society issues, participating in various international research projects.
to represent the district of Kozani
, and was subsequently appointed PASOK's Press Spokesman in March 2008.
Papakonstantinou headed PASOK's list of candidates for the European Parliament in the 2009 European elections
and was elected MEP
in June 2009. In October 2009 he was appointed Finance Minister in the government formed by Papandreou, now the prime minister
, after the national elections
.
On a poll published on the 18th of May 2011, 80% of the people asked said they have no faith in Mr. Papakonstantinou, to handle the Greek economic crisis.
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...
.
Education and career
He graduated from the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE). He later obtained a Master of Arts in Economics from New York University and a PhD in Economics from LSE.
After his studies, he worked as a senior economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
in Paris from 1988 to 1998.
In 1998, Papakonstantinou returned to Greece and was appointed an adviser to then-Prime Minister Costas Simitis
Costas Simitis
Konstantinos Simitis , usually referred to as Costas Simitis or Kostas Simitis, was Prime Minister of Greece and leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement from 1996 to 2004.- Biography :...
on "information society
Information society
The aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally through using IT in a creative and productive way. An information society is a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic,...
" issues.
Two years later, he was appointed Special Secretary for the "Information Society" at the Ministry of Economy and Finance
Minister for Economy and Finance (Greece)
The Ministry of Finance is a government department responsible for the running of the public finance of the Greek state. The current minister is Evangelos Venizelos, who also holds the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Greece....
(2000-2002). Between 2002 and 2004 he served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisors of the Ministry of Economy and Finance
Minister for Economy and Finance (Greece)
The Ministry of Finance is a government department responsible for the running of the public finance of the Greek state. The current minister is Evangelos Venizelos, who also holds the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Greece....
, as a board member of OTE
OTE
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. , usually known by its Greek initials OTE, is the dominant telecommunications provider in Greece. Formerly a state-owned monopoly, OTE was part-privatized in 1998 and is now listed on the Athens and New York Stock Exchanges...
(Hellenic Telecommunication Organization), and as the Greek representative to the European Union's
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...
Economic Policy Committee (EPC). In 2003 he coordinated the "Lisbon Strategy
Lisbon Strategy
The Lisbon Strategy, also known as the Lisbon Agenda or Lisbon Process, was an action and development plan devised in 2000, for the economy of the European Union between 2000 and 2010....
" for economic and social reforms during the Greek Presidency of the EU
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national...
.
Between 2004 and 2007, Papaconstantinou served as economic advisor to George Papandreou, the president of the 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). He was also a board member of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, PASOK's think tank, from 2005 to 2008.
Between 2003 and 2007, Papaconstantinou also taught economics at Department of Management Science and Technology of the Athens University of Economics and Business and advised the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
on research and information society issues, participating in various international research projects.
Political career
In May 2005, Papakonstantinou was also elected a member of the National Council of PASOK. In September 2007, he was elected member of the Hellenic ParliamentHellenic Parliament
The Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
to represent the district of Kozani
Kozani
Kozani is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of West Macedonia region. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley...
, and was subsequently appointed PASOK's Press Spokesman in March 2008.
Papakonstantinou headed PASOK's list of candidates for the European Parliament in the 2009 European elections
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
and was elected MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
in June 2009. In October 2009 he was appointed Finance Minister in the government formed by Papandreou, now the prime minister
Prime Minister of Greece
The Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...
, after the national elections
Greek legislative election, 2009
Parliamentary elections were held in Greece on 4 October 2009. An election was not required until September 2011.On 2 September Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis announced he would request President Karolos Papoulias to dissolve Parliament and call an election...
.
On a poll published on the 18th of May 2011, 80% of the people asked said they have no faith in Mr. Papakonstantinou, to handle the Greek economic crisis.