Biography

In January 2007, Jolana Mungengová obtained her PhD. in Political Science at Boston University in the U.S. She specialized in Public Policy, Comparative Politics, and Eastern Europe. Her PhD. thesis entitled "The Impact of European Union's ERDF Grants on Loans to SME's in the Czech Republic" was published in June 2008. Prior to her graduation in the U.S., Jolana obtained in 2000 a D.E.A. in Political Science from the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva in Switzerland, and in 1998, her dual Master Degree in Political Science and French Linguistics at the Charles University in Prague in the Czech Republic. At the beginning of her professional career, Jolana worked in advertising and in 1999 during the mandate of President Václav Havel she served as a Specialised agent for publicity at the Prague Castle Administration. In 2000-2001, she provided support in public policy teaching at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, before sharpening her Office management skills in 2001-2002 while working for the Vice-President for Distribution Network Management at the Prague-based bank, Komerční banka, a.s. (member of Société Générale Group). Ultimately, Jolana decided to focus on European Union’s policies and politics. This led her in 2004-2007 to work at the European Parliament as Administrator for the IND/DEM group. In this first parliamentary experience, she specialised in EU structural funds and policies on regional development, employment, education and culture in the respective parliamentary committees (REGI, EMPL, and CULT). She also wrote opinion pieces for the EUWatch Magazine as its editorial Board Member. In 2008-2009, Jolana became a self-employed Consultant advising on EU structural funds (Czech Professional License for Activities of Business, Financial, Organizational, and Economic Advisors ID NO.68369794) before returning to the European Parliament in 2009-2014 as the Policy advisor of the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR Group). During her second parliamentary experience, she focused on EU trade and investment policy and also EU economic and monetary affairs in the respective parliamentary committees (INTA and ECON). This gave her the opportunity to contribute to the adoption of EU post-Lisbon free trade agrements and the creation of the so-called "Banking Union". On 01 November 2014, Jolana switched from the European Parliament to the European Commission to continue helping with the EU's reform agenda. She is presently working as a Member of Cabinet (Policy Assistant) in the Cabinet of the EU Trade Commissioner, Ms Cecilia Malmström. Jolana's multiple attributions range from trade and security to transparency and engagement with the civil society. Jolana speaks fluently Czech and French (her mother and father tongues) as well as English and has also a good command of Spanish. She is learning German as well. Her publications include the abovementioned book and also policy papers, opinion pieces and poetry, including: -“The EU Enhanced Transparency in TTIP: A Successful Shift of Paradigm”; -“EU Trade and Investment: A Responsible Contribution to Growth and Jobs”; In January 2017, Jolana visited the U.S. as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program to deepen her knowledge of U.S. trade policy priorities, including the U.S. approach to transparency and engagement with the civil society.