Margrethe Vestager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margrethe Vestager
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Vestager in 2022
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| Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age | |
| In office 1 December 2019 – 30 November 2024 |
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| President | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Henna Virkkunen |
| European Commissioner for Competition | |
| In office 1 November 2014 – 30 November 2024 |
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| President | Jean-Claude Juncker Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Joaquín Almunia |
| Succeeded by | Teresa Ribera |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Denmark | |
| In office 3 October 2011 – 2 September 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Lars Barfoed |
| Succeeded by | Morten Østergaard |
| Minister of the Economy and Interior | |
| In office 3 October 2011 – 2 September 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Helle Thorning-Schmidt |
| Preceded by | Brian Mikkelsen (Economy) Bertel Haarder (Interior) |
| Succeeded by | Morten Østergaard |
| Leader of the Social Liberal Party | |
| In office 15 June 2007 – 2 September 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Marianne Jelved |
| Succeeded by | Morten Østergaard |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 23 March 1998 – 27 November 2001 |
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| Prime Minister | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen |
| Preceded by | Ole Vig Jensen |
| Succeeded by | Ulla Tørnæs |
| Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs | |
| Assumed office 21 December 2000 |
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| Prime Minister | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen |
| Preceded by | Ole Vig Jensen |
| Succeeded by | Johannes Lebech |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 April 1968 Glostrup, Denmark |
| Political party | Social Liberal Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party |
| Spouse |
Thomas Jensen
(m. 1994) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Copenhagen |
Margrethe Vestager (born 13 April 1968) is a politician from Denmark. She is famous for her work in the European Union (EU), where she made sure big companies play by the rules. From 2014 to 2024, she was the European Commissioner for Competition. Think of her as a referee for the business world in Europe.
Vestager also held an important role as Executive Vice President of the European Commission, helping Europe get ready for the digital future. Before working for the EU, she had a long career in Danish politics. She was a minister in the Danish government, in charge of education and the economy.
She is known for taking on some of the world's largest technology companies, often called "Big Tech". Because of her tough stance, she has been called "the world's most famous regulator." Her work has made sure that giant corporations are treated fairly and pay their share of taxes, just like everyone else.
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Early Life and School
Margrethe Vestager was born in Glostrup, Denmark. Her parents were both Lutheran ministers. She grew up in a small town called Ølgod. After finishing high school in 1986, she went to the University of Copenhagen. In 1993, she earned a degree in Economics.
Career in Politics
Vestager started her political career when she was only 21 years old. She quickly took on important roles in her political party, the Social Liberal Party. In 2001, she was elected to the Danish Parliament. By 2007, she was the leader of her party's group in parliament.
Working in the Danish Government
From 2011 to 2014, Vestager was the Minister for Economic and Interior Affairs in Denmark. This was a very powerful job. During this time, Denmark's economy was facing challenges. Vestager made some tough decisions to help the country's economy recover.
She also played a key role in Europe. When Denmark held the presidency of the EU Council in 2012, she led meetings of Europe's finance ministers. She helped create a European Banking Union to make Europe's banks safer.
European Commissioner for Competition
In 2014, Vestager was chosen to be Denmark's representative in the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU. She was given the important job of European Commissioner for Competition. Her main task was to make sure that all companies, big or small, compete fairly in the European market.
Taking on Big Tech
Vestager became famous for investigating huge technology companies. She wanted to make sure they were not using their size and power to crush smaller competitors or avoid paying taxes.
- Google: She continued an investigation into Google for using its search engine to favor its own shopping services. This led to large fines against the company.
- Apple: In 2016, she ordered Apple to pay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland. The Commission found that Apple had received an unfair tax deal, which was illegal under EU rules. After many years in court, the EU's highest court agreed with her decision in 2024.
- Amazon: She also ordered Amazon to pay back taxes because of a special deal it had in Luxembourg.
- Facebook and Qualcomm: Her department also fined other major companies like Facebook and Qualcomm for breaking competition rules.
Her strong actions against American tech companies were sometimes criticized by U.S. leaders, including President Donald Trump, who called her the "Tax Lady." However, many people saw her as a hero for standing up to powerful corporations.
Blocking a Major Merger
In 2019, Vestager made a bold decision to block two large European train companies, Siemens and Alstom, from merging. She worried that if they joined together, they would have too much power and it would be bad for competition in the rail industry. This decision was not popular with the French and German governments, who supported the merger.
A Digital Future for Europe
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After the 2019 European Parliament election, Vestager was given an even bigger role. She became an Executive Vice President of the European Commission, in charge of making "A Europe Fit for the Digital Age." She continued her work as Competition Commissioner at the same time.
In this role, she helped create new rules for the digital world. She also co-chaired the Trade and Technology Council, a group where the EU and the United States work together on technology and trade issues.
In 2023, Vestager faced a challenge when her choice for a top economist position was criticized. The person she chose had worked for big tech companies, which some felt was a conflict of interest. The candidate eventually withdrew. Despite this, Vestager's legacy as a strong regulator was secured by her court victory against Apple in 2024.
Other Activities
Outside of her main political roles, Vestager has been involved in other organizations.
- She was on the board of advisors for Royal Greenland, a seafood company.
- She was a member of the executive committee for UNICEF Denmark.
- In 2024, she became the Chair of the Board of Governors for the Technical University of Denmark.
Personal Life
Vestager is married to a teacher, and they have three daughters. The popular Danish TV show Borgen, about a female politician, was partly inspired by her life. In her free time, she enjoys knitting. She is a strong supporter of feminism and believes in equal opportunities for women. She speaks Danish, English, and some French.
See also
In Spanish: Margrethe Vestager para niños
- EU illegal State aid case against Apple in Ireland
- Leprechaun economics
- Ireland as a tax haven
