Historic PASOK cadre Vasso Papandreou died on Thursday, after a long illness, at the age of 80.
Papandreou has served as a minister in the governments of Andreas Papandreou and Kostas Simitis and was also the first Greek European Commissioner.
Vasso Papandreou was born in Valimitika, Aigio, on December 9, 1944. She studied Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business (then ASOEE), and continued her studies in the United Kingdom, where she obtained a Master's degree from the University of London and a PhD from the University of Reading. She later taught at Oxford University.
She served as President of EOMMEX (1981-1985), Deputy Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology (1985-1986), Deputy Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology (1986-1987), Deputy Minister of Commerce responsible for Greek Presidency issues in the European Community (1988-1989), European Commissioner for Employment, Labour Relations and Social Affairs, Human Resources, Education and Training, and Gender Equality (1989-1993), Minister of Development (1996-1999), Minister of Interior, Public Administration, and Decentralisation (1999-2001), and Minister for the Environment, Spatial Planning, and Public Works (2001-2004) in PASOK governments.