Loyola de Palacio has a law degree from the Universidad Compultense de Madrid and a doctor honoris causa in maritime economics and transport from the University of Geneva. She has been former senator and Deputy President of the People’s Party Group in the Spanish Senate (1986-1989), she has been Member of Parliament in the Spanish Congress (1989-1996). Former Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1996-1999) and former Vice President of the European Commission (1999-2004), she has been Commissioner for Transport, Energy and Relations with the European Parliament (1999-2004). Currently she chairs the Foreign Policy Council of the People’s Party in Spain and the High Level Group on the Pan-European Mediterranean Transport Network. She is also Guest Professor at the European University Institute, San Domenico di Fiesole.
She is member of Jacques Delors Institute‘s Board of Directors.