Michel Barnier (born January 9, 1951) is a conservative French politician.

Michel Barnier was born in La Tronche in the Isère département of the Rhône-Alpes région, in France. He graduated from the École supérieure de commerce de Paris in 1972. He was elected to the House of Representatives as a deputy for the Savoie in 1978 and served in this function until 1993.

Together with Jean-Claude Killy he organised the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville as co-president of the COJO (Comité d'Organisation des Jeux Olympiques). Barnier served as Minister of the Environment from 1993 to 1995 and as Secretary of State for European Affairs from 1995 to 1997. Barnier served as a European Commissioner for regional policy in the Prodi Commission from 1999 until March 31, 2004 having been made the Foreign Minister of France in the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin. He served in this function until June 5, 2005 when upon the establishment of the new government under Dominique de Villepin he was replaced by Philippe Douste-Blazy.

In March 2006, he was elected Vice President of the European People's Party (EPP) for a three-year term. Upon the reshuffle of the French cabinet, caused by the resignation of Alain Juppé after the 2007 French legislative election, on June 19, 2007, it was announced that Barnier would become Minister of Agriculture.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6766929.stm

He is Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour).