Political Career
Reding started her political career in 1979, as a Member of the Luxembourg Parliament and held the following positions:
- President of social committee
- Member of the Office of the Chamber of Deputies
- Member of the Benelux Parliament
- Member of the North Atlantic Assembly (leader of Christian Democrat/Conservative group)
She then became leader of Luxembourg’s EPP delegation in the European Parliament from 1989 to 1999 and she was a Member of the group's office.
Within the European Parliament, she has held positions as Chair of the Petitions Committee for 3 years, and Vice-Chair of the Social Committee and the Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs Committee for 2 years each.
From 1981 to 1999, she was Communal conciliator of the city of Esch, in which she was President of the Cultural Affairs Committee from 1992 to 1999.
From 1988 to 1993, she was national president of the Christian-Social Women and from 1995 to 1999 and president of the Christian Social People's Party.
From 1999 to 2004, she was appointed Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth, Media and Sport and in 2004 she became Commissioner for Information Society and Media. In that position she regulated the prices of roaming within the EU.
In February 2009, she was appointed Vice-President on the European Commission and responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
She has earned the following prizes and distinctions:
- 1992 Creu de Sant Jordi (St George’s Cross) from the Generalitat of Catalonia
- 2001 Gold Medal of the European Merit Foundation
- 2004 Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Fu Jen Catholic University of Taiwan
- 2004 Doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Genoa
- 2004 Robert Schuman Medal
- 2004 Doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Turin
- 2005 Gloria Artis Medal of Honour from Poland
- 2005 Officer of the National Order French Legion of Honour
- 2007 Internet villain award at the UK Internet Service Providers Association Awards
- 2007 Deutscher Mittelstandspreis
- 2009 Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Sacred Heart University, Luxembourg
- 2010 BeNeLux Europa award
- 2012 Doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Glasgow
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