Janez Potočnik is the European Commissioner for Environment. Born in Slovenia in 1958, he has a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Ljubljana where he lectured for many years on statistics and economy. He has been awarded honorary degrees by London Imperial College and Gent University. He has been Director of Slovenia’s Government Office for European Affairs, a Minister Councillor at the Office of the Prime Minister, and Minister without portfolio responsible for European Affairs. He was head of the negotiating team for Slovenia’s accession to the EU.
Janez was nominated as Slovenia’s first European Commissioner in 2004 and was given the Science and Research portfolio. In 2010, he started a second term, this time as Commissioner for Environment. In September 2013 he was named a Champions of the Earth laureate by the United Nations.