French diplomat and political figure

Catherine Colonna (born 16 April 1956) is a French diplomat and political figure who has been serving as Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne since May 2022.

During her time in the diplomatic service, Colonna served as Amb*ador of France to the United Kingdom (2021–2022), Amb*ador of France to Italy (2014–2017) and the Amb*ador of France to the OECD.

Contents

• 1 Family and education
• 2 Career in the diplomatic service
• 3 Career in the private sector
• 4 Return to the diplomatic service
• 5 Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, 2022–present
• 6 Honours
  • 6.1 National honours
  • 6.2 Foreign honours
• 7 References
• 8 External links

Family and education

Born in Tours, Colonna is the daughter of a farmer of Corsican origin.

After obtaining a Masters degree in public law at the Université François-Rabelais of Tours, she continued her studies at the Ins*ut d'études politiques de Paris (public service), and then joined the École nationale d'administration (ENA) in the cl* of 1983 (Solidarité).

Career in the diplomatic service

In 1983, Colonna opted for a diplomatic career and was appointed at the French emb*y in the USA, first in the political department, then in the press and information department.

Upon her return to Paris, Colonna was entrusted with European law at the Legal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1988. In 1988, she became a technical advisor in Minister of Public Works Maurice Faure's cabinet, under the presidency of François Mitterrand. In 1989, shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, she joined the *ysis and Forecasting Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was put in charge of European affairs. She later became spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990, in the department of Communication and Information, a position she kept for five years.

In 1993, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé and Cabinet Director Dominique de Villepin named Colonna deputy spokesperson. Two years later, in May 1995, President Jacques Chirac appointed her spokeswoman for the Élysée Palace. For the following nine years, she served as the official voice of the French Republic's Presidency, then left office to work as Director General of the National Center of Cinematography (CNC) in September 2004.

Following the European Cons*ution referendum Colonna returned to diplomacy, being appointed Minister Delegate for European Affairs in the new government formed by Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin on 2 June 2005. She remained in position for two years, until 15 May 2007. From autumn 2007 until summer 2008, Colonna participated in the Commission on the White Paper on Foreign and European policy of France, led by Alain Juppé.

On 26 March 2008, Colonna was appointed French amb*ador to UNESCO.

Career in the private sector

Since May 2008, Colonna is a member of the Fondation Chirac's board of directors, and a member of the Franco-British Council.

Since May 2010, Colonna also chairs the board of governors of the École du Louvre.

In December 2010, Colonna decided to join the Paris office of international financial communications firm Brunswick as managing partner.

Return to the diplomatic service

Colonna was appointed as French Amb*ador to Rome on 14 August 2014.

Amid a 2021 dispute between Britain and France over post-Brexit fishing licenses, U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss instructed Minister of State for Europe Wendy Morton to summon Colonna “to explain the disappointing and disproportionate threats made against the UK and Channel Islands.”

Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, 2022–present

In May 2022, Colonna was named Foreign Minister in the Borne government. She is the second woman in that position after a short stint by Michèle Alliot-Marie in 2010.

Honours

National honours

• :France: Officer of the Legion of Honour
• :France: Officer of the National Order of Merit
• :France: Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Foreign honours

• :Uruguay: Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1997)
• :Italy: Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy (2 June 2018)

References

External links

• Media related to Catherine Colonna at Wikimedia Commons