Pierre Gramegna

Gramegna was born and grew up in Esch-sur-Alzette. He then attended Panthéon-Assas University, where he studied economics and law, receiving a master's degree in civil law from the university in 1981, and a degree in economic science in 1982. He completed his postgraduate education with a DEA in community law.[2]

Gramegna joined the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983. He was an economic and political affairs adviser at the Luxembourg embassy in Paris from 1988 to 1993. He was subsequently appointed consul general and director of the Board of Economic Development in San Francisco. From 1996 to 2002, Gramegna served as Luxembourg's ambassador to Japan and South Korea, before heading the Directorate for International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a short period of time in 2002. In 2003, Gramegna became director general of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, a post he held until he was asked to join the government at the end of 2013.[2]

Following the 2013 general election in which he had not taken part, Gramegna was a surprise appointment to the Bettel–Schneider ministry as the Minister for Finances. He joined the Democratic Party shortly before being sworn in. Gramegna had been previously mostly known for his lobbyist work for the business community as well his promotional activities outside of Luxembourg in his capacity as director general of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.[2]

In November 2017, Gramegna submitted his formal application for succeeding Jeroen Dijsselbloem as the next chairman of the Eurogroup;[3][4] in the vote, he lost in the second round to Mário Centeno.[5][6] In 2020, he was again nominated by his government for that role, this time competing against Nadia Calviño and Paschal Donohoe.[7]