Nicole Fontaine

The second woman President of the European Parliament (also French, after Simone Veil). A strong political figure and ardent supporter of Europe, who was entrusted with overseeing the adoption of the euro.
Nicole Fontaine, who served as President from 1999 to 2002, worked to reform the working methods of the European Parliament to make it more accessible to EU citizens.
From the beginning of her parliamentary career in her home country, France, she worked for a Europe of citizens, focusing on projects related to youth education and mutual recognition of academic qualifications across the EU, as well as women’s rights and gender equality.
She served twice as Vice-President of the European Parliament, from 1989 to 1994 and from 1994 to 1999. She took on a mediating role in reaching agreements between the European Parliament and member states on key legislation, including two EU youth programs (Socrates and “Youth for Europe”).
In her first speech before the European Council in Tampere, Finland in October 1999, she emphasized the importance of considering citizens’ everyday concerns. She advocated for an “ambitious approach aimed at providing the Union with a charter of fundamental rights”. In December 2000, she signed the Charter of Fundamental Rights on behalf of the European Parliament.