Foreword

Neelie Kroes is Vice President of the European Commission and European Digital Agenda Commissioner. Commissioner Kroes began her political career on the Rotterdam Municipal Council, and in 1971 was elected as a Member of the Dutch Parliament for the liberal VVD party. From 1982 to 1989 she served as Minister for Transport, Public Works and Telecommunication in the Netherlands. She was President of Nyenrode University from 1991 to 2000, and served on various company boards, including Lucent Technologies, Volvo, and P&O Nedlloyd. She served as European Commissioner for Competition from 2004 to 2009 before taking on her current role. Her charity work includes advising the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and World Cancer Research Fund, and she has an ongoing interest in mental health issues.