Tonino Picula

Tonino Picula is a prominent Croatian politician and diplomat, currently serving his third term as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). With over 30 years in public office, his career spans national, local and European political leadership. He previously served as Croatia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000–2003) and was elected four times to the Croatian Parliament. He also served as Mayor of Velika Gorica from 2005 to 2009. In the European Parliament since 2013, Picula currently acts as the S&D Coordinator in the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET), Chair of the Working Group on the Western Balkans, and Standing Rapporteur on relations with the United States and Montenegro. He also chairs the EP Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas. He has played a key role in shaping the EU’s policies on enlargement, transatlantic relations, disinformation, and regional stability in Southeast Europe. His legislative work is widely recognised, particularly in the context of the EU’s engagement with the Western Balkans. A dedicated member of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) since 1992, he has held various leadership roles in the party and currently sits on the Presidency of the Party of European Socialists (PES). Born on 31 August 1961 in Mali Lošinj, he holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Zagreb. Fluent in English and conversational in Italian and German, he lives in Croatia with his wife Marijana and daughter Petra. Picula is also a veteran of the Croatian War of Independence.