Barbara Kauffmann is Director for employment and social governance, analysis at the European Commission (DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) since 2015. Her current responsibilities include the European Semester coordination, EU legislative initiatives including for a framework on minimum wages, as well as fair green and digital transition aspects. She is also in charge of the support of Greece and Cyprus notably through the European Social Fund. Barbara Kauffmann studied economics at the University of Heidelberg and the University of Florida (Ph.D.). After working at the Kiel Institute of World Economics and the German Ministry of Finance, she joined the Commission (DG for Economic and Financial Affairs) where she was notably responsible for country and fiscal surveillance until she joined DG Employment.