Ms Katerina Batzeli
Minister for Rural Development and Food
Greece

Katerina Batzeli became Minister for Rural Development and Food in October 2009. She is also a member of the national parliament of Greece and a former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for European and international affairs.

Ms Batzeli served as a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009. During this time she chaired the European Parliament's Committee on Culture, Education and Youth in 2007-2009 and was Co-ordinator of the Socialist Group on agriculture policies in 2004-2007. She was also a member of the Committee on Agriculture & Agricultural Development and the Temporary Committee on Climate Change, as well as the committees on Economic & Monetary Affairs and Women's Rights and Gender Equality.

Between 1997 and 2004 she worked as a consultant on food, agriculture and rural development to the private sector and trade unions.