Marta Kos: Eberswalde celebrates Slovenia's new EU Commissioner!

Marta Kos: Eberswalde celebrates Slovenia's new EU Commissioner!

On the trail of an impressive career: Marta Kos, Slovenia's ambassador in Berlin, was a guest at the Hoeck Foundation's “Diplomatic Salon – The World as a Guest in Eberswalde” on October 20, 2015. Martin Hoeck, the organizer of the salon, was thrilled by the positive response from the guests, who greatly appreciated Kos' charisma and commitment. One mother even reported that because of Kos's charisma she traveled to Slovenia with her children and was captivated by the country's impressive nature and economic boom. This visit was just a stage in Kos's life, which was to take remarkable turns.

Just one year after her guest appearance in Eberswalde, in 2016, Marta Kos was voted Ambassador of the Year by Diplomatic Magazine. In the following years she successfully headed the Slovenian embassy in Switzerland until 2020 and received the Federal Cross of Merit in the Grand Cross of Merit category in 2019. Her importance in international politics became even clearer when she was appointed as Slovenia's representative in the EU Commission under Ursula von der Leyen in 2024. On December 1, 2024, she finally began her term as EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Eastern Neighborhoods and the Reconstruction of Ukraine in Brussels.

Important milestones and reviews

Marta Kos moved professionally from Slovenia to Germany, where she worked as a Bonn correspondent for RTV. However, her career began much earlier when she set swimming records in her youth. She was also director of the Slovenian Government Information Office from 1997 to 1999 and later became vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her talents as a diplomat and politician did not go unnoticed, even if she was not spared from internal political currents.

In 2022, Kos announced her candidacy for the Slovenian presidency, but withdrew it in August and resigned as vice-president of the Freedom Movement. She left the party in 2023 due to disagreements with her government's foreign policy, which was not always well received by public opinion. Despite these challenges, Kos has always maintained its stability and influence at the international level, especially in European politics.

A reunion in Eberswalde

Contact with home remains important for Marta Kos. The ALDE Congress took place in Brussels on October 24th and 25th, 2025, where Martin Hoeck met Kos again after a long time and invited her to visit Eberswalde again. The Diplomatic Salon has lasted over 10 years and shows that the French still have a great interest in international relations.

The next salon, which will take place on November 11, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Eberswalde city library, is already almost fully booked and suggests that the exchange between different cultures and nationalities is very popular. This format is noticeably revitalized by the presence of distinguished guests such as Kos, and the many participants are a sign of the continued popularity of this series of events.

For Slovenia, which was the first eastern country to join the EU in 2004, it is crucial to be active both nationally and internationally. Since joining the EU, Slovenia has been actively working on its relations with neighboring countries with the aim of playing a positive and supportive role within the European Union. The expertise of people like Marta Kos is indispensable here.

Networking and dialogue on political and social issues have proven to be the basis for successful diplomacy. And one thing is certain: the next steps in Carinthia's foreign policy are eagerly awaited as Slovenia continues to work on its role in Europe.