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Slovenia: Janez Potocnik

DW StaffApril 2, 2004

Forty-four-year-old Janez Potocnik is an experienced economist and European policy expert. Among the feathers in his cap were Slovenia's negotiations to become a member of the European Union.

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Janez Potocnik, Slovenia's Europe ministerImage: EC/Breydel

For several years, Janez Potocnik has been the point man between EU headquarters in Brussels and Ljubljana. Since January 2002, the doctor of economics has served as Minister of European Affairs the cabinet of Janez Drnovšek. Previously, he served as the negotiator responsible for securing Slovenia's membership in the EU.

Education and work experience

Born in 1958, Potocnik went on to study economics at the University of Ljubljana, where he obtained master's and doctoral degrees in 1993. He began his professional career at an economics research institute in Ljubljana. He later became the head of the Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development in the Slovenian Commerce and Trade Ministry.

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