Member of the European Commission in charge of External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy
What position did Benita Ferrero-Waldner take from Nov 2004 to Dec 2009?
Benita Ferrero-Waldner Benita Ferrero-Waldner ( born 5 September 1948 ) is an Austrian diplomat and politician , and a member of the conservative Austrian Peoples Party ( ÖVP ) . Ferrero-Waldner served as the Foreign Minister of Austria 2000–2004 and was the candidate of the Austrian Peoples Party in the 2004 Austrian presidential election , which she narrowly lost with 47.6% of the votes . She served as the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy from 2004 to 2009 , and as the European Commissioner for Trade and European Neighbourhood Policy from 2009 to 2010 . Early life and education . Born in Salzburg , Waldner took her matura exams in 1966 and then studied law , receiving a doctorate from the University of Salzburg in 1970 . Career . Until 1983 Waldner worked in the private sector . Only in 1984 did she enter the diplomatic service . One of her most influential positions was Chef de protocole for Secretary General Boutros-Ghali at the UN in New York City . From 1995 until 2000 Ferrero-Waldner served as Under-Secretary of State in two governments led by Social Democrats Franz Vranitzky and Viktor Klima . When Wolfgang Schüssel became Chancellor of Austria early in 2000 he made Ferrero-Waldner his Minister for Foreign Affairs , a position she held until October 2004 , when she was succeeded by Ursula Plassnik . In January 2004 it was announced that Ferrero-Waldner would run for Federal President to succeed Thomas Klestil in July 2004 . Her candidature was supported by the Austrian Peoples Party ; her only opponent was Heinz Fischer . However , she lost the election on 25 April . Member of the European Commission , 2004–2010 . In late July 2004 Ferrero-Waldner was nominated the successor of Franz Fischler as Austrias European Commissioner . She took office on 22 November . Her portfolio was Foreign Affairs and European Neighbourhood Policy . As the EUs External Affairs Commissioner , Ferrero-Waldner is credited with being the key diplomat in the 24 July 2007 release of 5 Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor imprisoned by Libya . They had been held more than 8 years on charges of purposefully infecting children with HIV , and have continued to profess their innocence . The commissioner made many trips to Libya and met with the prisoners regularly . She also worked to improve conditions for children infected with HIV/Aids . Life after politics . In September 2009 Ferrero-Waldner ran for the post of UNESCO Director-General but lost to the Bulgarian candidate Irina Bokova . Since leaving politics , she has held a variety of paid and unpaid positions , including the following : - Munich Re , Member of the Supervisory Board ( since 2010 ) - United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons , President of the Board of Trustees ( 2017–2020 ) - European Institute of the Mediterranean ( IEMed ) , Member of the Advisory Council - Graduate School for Global and International Studies , University of Salamanca , Member of the Advisory Board In February 2020 , Ferrero-Waldner joined around fifty former European prime ministers and foreign ministers in signing an open letter published by British newspaper The Guardian to condemn U.S . President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan , saying it would create an apartheid-like situation in occupied Palestinian territory . Private life . From 1974 until 1983 Waldner was married to Wolfgang Sterr , a Bavarian high school teacher . However , their marriage ended in divorce . In 1993 Waldner married Francisco Ferrero Campos , a lecturer in Spanish and Latin American literature at the University of Vienna . After her previous marriage had finally been annulled Ferrero-Waldner married her husband again in church in December 2003 . The couple does not have any children . External links . - November 2004 – November 2009 Member of the European Commission in charge of External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy - November 2009 – February 2010 Member of the European Commission in charge of Trade , the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EuropeAid – Cooperation Office ( Aidco ) . - Born between Salzburg and Braunau am Inn