Sir Leon Brittan began his third term as Member of the European Commission in January 1995 and was appointed one of its two Vice Presidents in February. During his current five-year mandate, he will serve as EU External Relations Commissioner for North America and parts of Asia (including Japan and China), and is also responsible for the EU's common trade policy, relations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In his second term (1993-1994), he was EU Commissioner for External Economic Affairs and was the EU's chief negotiator in the Uruguay Round. He was first appointed to the Commission in 1989. In his first term (1989-1992) he was responsible for Competition and Financial Services.

Sir Leon, who was a Conservative member of the British Parliament from 1974-1988, held several Cabinet posts in the British Government. He served as Secretary of State for Industry and Trade (1985-1986), Home Secretary (1983-1985), Chief Secretary to the Treasury (1981-1983), and Minister of State at the Home Office (1979-1981).

Born in London on September 25, 1939, Sir Leon was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was a Henry Fellow at Yale University. In 1962, he was called to the Bar and in 1978 received the prestigious appointment as Queen's Counsel. In 1983, he became a member of the governing board of the Inner Temple, one of London's four unincorporated legal societies.

Sir Leon is married and has two stepdaughters. He was knighted in January 1989.

July 1995