Piebalgs

Andris Piebalgs is a Latvian politician and economist who served as European Commissioner for Energy from 2004 to 2010 and European Commissioner for Development from 2010 to 2014. He held these roles in the Barroso Commission, contributing to the development of the European Union’s energy policy and its development cooperation framework.

As European Commissioner for Energy, Piebalgs focused on strengthening the internal energy market, improving energy security, and promoting energy efficiency and diversification of energy sources. He played a role in advancing EU measures related to energy interconnections, market reform, and the diversification of supply routes and partners.

In his later tenure as European Commissioner for Development, Piebalgs oversaw the EU’s development policy and aid programs. His responsibilities included coordinating development cooperation with partner countries, aligning aid with poverty reduction and sustainable development goals, and fostering coherence between development objectives and other EU external actions.

Prior to joining the European Commission, Piebalgs held various positions in Latvia’s government and public administration, where he worked on economic policy and international relations. Throughout his career, he has been involved in initiatives related to energy policy and international development, shaping the EU’s external strategies in these areas.