In the afternoon I was privileged to welcome Ritt Bjerregaard to the EESC. Bjerregaard is a grand old figure of Danish politics. She was a member of the Folketing from 1971 to 1995 and again from 2001 to 2005. She served as a minister three times, then served as a European Commissioner for the Environment (1995-1999), then returned to Danish politics as minister of  Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and then, most recently, served as Lord Mayor of the City of Copenhagen (2006-2009). Quite a record! And not one without a degree of controversy, though one wonders how much that has to do with the simple fact that she is a strong-willed woman. She certainly brought colour to the European Commission (and the Commission always needs colour). She is planning on writing a book about her experiences as Mayor. That, I am sure, would be a good read!