Since September 2007 Ewa OŚNIECKA-TAMECKA has served as Vice-Rector of the College of Europe. She is based at the Natolin campus in Warsaw. For the past 18 years, she has been devoted to implementing the College of Europe’s mission and developing academic excellence in Natolin.

On 12 December 2025, the Administrative Council of the College of Europe decided to transfer the powers and responsibilities of the Rector to the Vice-Rector, following a unanimous position expressed by the Executive Committee and full endorsement by the Academic Council, in accordance with the College’s Statutes. As a result, Vice-Rector Ewa OŚNIECKA-TAMECKA has been appointed Acting Rector.

Biography: 

Born in 1962 in the historic and industrial city of Łódź in Poland, she graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Sociology at the University of Łódź, obtaining two masters degrees in economics in 1987 and 1988. She started working at University of Łódź, but in 1991 she has dedicated herself to public service, serving both her country and the cause of European unity. 

She has pursued this work both in Polish public administration and, since 1992, in establishing in Poland branches of three major European educational and training institutions: the College of Europe, the European University Institute in Florence and the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht. In doing so, she supported the establishment in Poland of strong centres for European studies that would enable joint education of young people from all European countries, including from Central and Eastern Europe, and their preparation for active participation in the process of European Integration.

Public Administration:

• 1991 – Advisor in the Office for European Integration in the Prime Minister’s Office in Poland.
• 1992-1996 – Chef de Cabinet of the first Polish Minister for European Integration.
• 1994-1996 - Director of the EC/PHARE Sierra Programme Management Unit (22.5 MECU, a major European Union financial instrument designed to assist with economic transition in the period leading to accession).
• 2000-2001 – Chef de Cabinet of the Prime Minister - Chairman of the Committee for European Integration, contributing to Polish European policy during the negotiations leading to Poland's accession to the European Union.
• 2006-2007 – Secretary of State for European Affairs and acting Chair of the European Committee of the Polish Council of Ministers. She was also actively involved in the preparation of the mandate for the European Commission to negotiate the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia.
• 2006–2007 - National (foreign) Aid Coordinator (NAC).
• 2006-2007 – Poland’s Sherpa in negotiation of the Lisbon Treaty.
• 2007 – Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland before the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Free Trade Area Court.
• 2008 – member of the Wise Men Group, created by the Council of the European Union to review the external mandate of the EIB.

Educational and Research positions:

• 1997-2001 – Director of the Natolin European Centre, one of the leading Polish think tanks conducting research focusing on European integration.
• Since 2001 – Secretary General of the board of the Natolin European Centre.
• Since 2001 – Director General, College of Europe in Natolin.
• Since 2007 – Vice-Rector of the College of Europe.
• 2016-2017 – Member of the Governing Board of the European Humanities University.
• Since 12 December 2025 - Acting Rector of the College of Europe

Awards:

• 2006 – Légion d'honneur (France)
• 2013 – Ordre de la Couronne (Belgium)
• 2016 – Ordre de Léopold (Belgium)