Trade tensions between the US and China, the shift of economic power towards Asia, the rise of Chinese and American digital giants, and geopolitical upheavals – these are just some of the reasons that propelled Europe to put together a geopolitical Commission for 2019-2024. As Brexit is now official, the EU is about to launch a re-think of its role and its priorities for the new decade within and without Europe.
About the presenter:
Annemie Turtelboom is currently a Member of the European Court of Auditors, the external auditor of the EU, based in Luxembourg. Her portfolio includes audit work related to EU budget, EU public finance, policies related to EU governance, financial instruments and technical assistance in the EU. She is enthusiastic about digital agenda and innovation in auditing.
After having served as Vice Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Minister for Finance, Budget and Energy (2014-2016), she returned to the Belgian Federal Parliament, where she was an active member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs until April 2018.
Prior to these positions, Annemie Turtelboom served as Minister of Justice (2012-14) in the Federal Government of Belgium. During her time as Minister of Justice, she instituted a sweeping reform of the judiciary, oversaw the abdication of King Albert and the investiture of King Philippe. Before this term, Annemie Turtelboom was Minister of the Interior (2009-12) – the first woman in Belgian history – and Minister of Migration (2008-9) in the Belgian Federal Government. During her tenure, she was responsible for the public order and security issues as well as emergency situations. Between 2008 and 2014, she represented Belgium as Minister at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the EU.
She has spoken extensively on topics related to security and migration with various stakeholders in the EU, at the United Nations, in Washington, D.C., and in various European capitals. In 2010, Annemie Turtelboom co-authored “De toekomst kan elk moment beginnen” (The future can begin anytime). She is a strong supporter of gender equality and empowering youth. In 2017, she was selected as a Greenberg World Fellow at Yale University. Most recently, she has been teaching a graduate-level course on European budget at the University of Hasselt.
Before taking office at the European Court of Auditors, she also served as a City Councillor for Antwerp and the Municipality of Puurs, and she was a board member of the Port of Antwerp. Among her other interests, she was the President of the Friends of the Antwerp Fashion Museum. Turtelboom is fluent in Dutch, English and French, and holds a degree in economics from KU Leuven.