Born in Constanta, Romania, Mrs. Ramona Manescu, MEP, graduated in Law, followed, among others, by postgraduate studies at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and postgraduate studies in International Relations and European Integration.

With a liberal background, she has 27 years of political experience, both at national and international level. She held the position of Secretary of State at the National Authority for Youth in Romania and Minister of Transports in the Romanian Government. At the international level, she was the Vice President of IFLRY (International Federation of Liberal Youth) and, later, of the ALDE Party.

Now in her third mandate at the European Parliament, Ramona Manescu’s main political focus is set on building a stronger, more coherent, clear and determined EU foreign policy in relation to the Middle East, North Africa and the wider question of Europe’s response to Jihadism. In her approach, she also tackles the new security challenges coming from the cyber vulnerabilities and the fake news phenomenon, both used as tools in today’s hybrid wars.

Mrs. Ramona Manescu, member of the EPP political Group in the European Parliament, is active in the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament as well as in the International Trade (INTA), and the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committees. She is the acting Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries (DMAS). Her activity in relation to the MENA region completes with her membership in the Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula (DARP). She also chairs the EU Parliamentary Friendship Groups with Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar.

In 2008, Manescu was designated MEP of the Year for Culture and Education, a distinction awarded by The Parliament Magazine.