Deputy Head of Unit, DG AGRI, European Commission, BE

Branka Tome joined the European civil service, the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development in 2003. After having worked in the area of rural development policy and finance, she is currently occupying the post of Deputy Head of Unit responsible for geographical indications. In particular, she is engaged in the development of the policy on protection of geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines and spirit drinks and its implementation.

Having started her career at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ljubljana, Branka Tome subsequently served at the Slovenian Mission to the European Union in Brussels during the accession negotiations during the period 1998 to 2003. During 2007-2008, she returned to Slovenia; nominated State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food she lead the project of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the respective areas.

Branka Tome is an economist. She graduated at the University of Ljubljana and completed her studies with a Master Degree in European Economics from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.