Sandra Kalniete (born 22 December 1952) is a Latvian politician, author, diplomat and independence movement leader. She served as Foreign Minister of Latvia 2002–2004 and as European Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries in 2004. Since 2009, she has served as Member of the European Parliament for the European People's Party.
She is currently a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). Additionally she is on the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Vice-Chair for the Delegation for relations with Japan. Kalniete is also the chairperson of the Reconciliation of European Histories Group, an all-party group in the European Parliament involved in promoting the Prague Process. The group includes 40 MEPs from across the political spectrum including the European People's Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Greens, and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
She has previously served as Ambassador to the United Nations (1993–97), France (1997–2000) and UNESCO (2000–02).
Read more about Sandra Kalniete: Background, Political Career, Human Rights Activism, Publications, Translations, Career Experience and Political Activities, Awards, Board-member/affiliations