She was born and brought up at the island of Zakynthos, Greece. She studied Sociology (specialising in political sociology) at the University of Geneva (Switzerland). Her postgraduate studies followed at the Institute of European Studies of the same university. She was first elected as an MEP in 1999. She was re-elected in 2004 and in 2009. Her parliamentary work was rich and multifaceted with numerous interventions on issues like European integration, regional cohesion and economic development of Europe, the upgrading of women's participation and the presence of the EU at international level.