Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne’s government: Catherine Colonna and Sylvie Retailleau, a diplomat and a scholar in charge of foreign affairs and higher education
As the French republican tradition demands, the new government chosen by Élisabeth Borne, who was appointed Prime Minister on 16 May, was unveiled on the Élysée Palace steps on 16 May. Among appointed ministers, two are of interest for Campus France, an agency under the direct leadership of two ministries: the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research. Two women from the field, two highly-skilled professionals, Catherine Colonna and Sylvie Retailleau, who come from diplomacy and higher education, take the head of these charges.
“Ecology, health, education, full employment, democratic rebirth, Europe and security: together, with the new Government, we will continue to relentlessly act for French women and men”, said on his Twitter account French president Macron, who appointed Élisabeth Borne Prime Minister and charged her of forming a new government, as per the French Constitution.
Catherine Colonna, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs
In the order of protocol of the Government, in third position, is Catherine Colonna, appointed Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Catherine Colonna is a career diplomat and French politician, who was elevated to the status of Ambassador of France in November 2020. As such, she served as Ambassador of France to Italy and then to the United Kingdom.
Beforehand, she has been the spokesperson for the French Presidency and had already been appointed Deputy Minister for European Affairs in the government of Dominique de Villepin (2005-2007). Catherine Colonna was then France’s permanent representative to UNESCO and the OECD.
Catherine Colonna is a graduate from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, holds a Master’s degree in public law, a Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies in public law and is a former student of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA, promotion “Solidarité”, 1981-1983). She began her diplomatic career in 1983, working at the French Embassy in Washington.
Sylvie Retailleau, Minister for Higher Education and Research
Sylvie Retailleau, President of the University of Paris-Saclay, university professor and professor of physics, has been appointed Minister for Higher Education and Research.
She was elected President of the University of Paris-Saclay in 2020, one of the most highly ranked French universities in international rankings, and participated in the preparatory work for the Research Programming Law and was a member of the Board of Directors of Campus France. Prior to these charges, she has been Vice President of the Physics Department of the Faculty of Sciences in Orsay, then Vice Dean in charge of training and Dean of the Faculty (2011-2016), before being elected President of the University of Paris-Sud (2016-2018).
Sylvie Retailleau is an alumnus of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Cachan and holds an agrégation in applied physics and a PhD in science (1992). Her research topics focus on the “theoretical study of the physics of semiconductor components for advanced electronics”.
To know more
- Elisabeth Borne’s full government:
https://www.gouvernement.fr/composition-du-gouvernement
- Catherine Colonna’s bio:
https://uk.ambafrance.org/Biographie
- Sylvie Retailleau’s bio:
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