Cornelia Ernst (born 30 November 1956) is a German politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Germany.

After graduating from secondary school in 1974 and her entry into the SED she finished her degree/diploma in education science in 1979.

Ernst got her PhD in 1983 at Leipzig University with the thesis on "Zur Geschichte des Internationalen Frauentages in der Übergangsperiode vom Kapitalismus zum Sozialismus auf dem Gebiet der DDR (1945/46 - 1961)" (English: The history of the International Women's Day in the transition period from capitalism to socialism on the territory of the GDR (1945/46 - 1961) and was a teachers trainer at the departement for teachers training in Großenhain.

In November 2001 Ernst got elected as chairman, as successor of Peter Porsch.

In her first term she was on the board of the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left, a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, a substitute on the Committee on Regional Development and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and a Member of the Delegation for relations with Iran.