Mrs. Angela Spizig

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Angela Spizig
Angela Spizig studied Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages at the University of Cologne. After her exam she taught English and French literature at Cologne Schools. In 1997 she joined the Green Party because of her interest ecological issues and questions of sustainable city development. In 1999 she was elected to the Cologne City Council, where she became the speaker in the cultural committee. One year later, the council elected Ms Spizig Vice Mayor of the City of Cologne. Together with three other Vice Mayors, she represents the Mayor and the city.

Ms Spizig’s work focuses on culture, the media, ICT and international relations. She represents the Mayor not only locally, but also abroad and in numerous international networks. After the local elections in 2004 as well as 2009, the new council re-elected Ms Spizig Vice Mayor for another five-year-term.

For many years Vice Mayor Spizig has been member of the Advisory Board of “AFS Internationale Begegenungen e. V.”, an association dealing with worldwide youth exchange, with the focus on intercultural experience and competence.

As Vice Mayor, Ms. Spizig has a strong focus on Latin America. Since 2005 she has travelled to Brazil various times in order to strengthen the relations in the area of economy and tourism. In September 2011 she accompanied the Mayor of Cologne to Rio de Janeiro, where a Partnership Treaty between the two cities was signed.

Ms Spizig is Vice-President of the European Cultural network “les rencontres” and is often invited as key-note speaker to conferences all over Europe. For many years she has also been working as a “moderator” at literature - and film festivals, presenting international authors and film directors to the public.

In 2011 she was decorated by the French minister of culture with the insignia of „Officier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres“.

Ms Spizig is a politician who feels that it is necessary to network, cooperate and exchange ideas and experiences on all levels – locally and internationally - in order to deal with the complex issues of our globalized world of today.

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