Michael Gahler

This article is part of the MEPedia project of Spinwatch.

Michael Gahler, MEP

Michael Gahler (born 22 April 1960, Frankfurt/Main) is a German MEP from Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

Affiliations

• Vice-Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Vice-Chairman, Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
• Member, Subcommittee on Human Rights
• Member, Delegation for relations with Iran
• Substitute, Committee on Budgets
• Substitute, Delegation for relations with South Africa

Record and Controversies

Declaration of Financial Interests

Paid Functions or Activities:

• Head of EU Election Observing Mission for the general elections in Pakistan, 19 December 2007 - 20 April 2008.

Record of Parliamentary Votes

• Voted in favour of the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.
• Voted against the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment.
• Voted in favour of the Commission White Paper on "Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy" (A5-0356/2001). The amendment helps avoid the necessary precautionary approach towards some chemical substances that are not proven to be completely safe.
• Voted against the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Voted in favour of the report on "Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" (A5-0135/2002). The Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) is a network of so-called 'transport corridors' through Europe. This amendment calls for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment of these transport corridors and calls on the Commission to improve methods for analysing the environmental and economic impact of the TEN-T.
• Voted against the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.
• Voted against the report towards a "thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides" (A5-0061/2003). The amendment proposes to ban or severely restrict use of pesticides in areas around sources of drinking water and nature protected zones.
• Voted against the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.
• Voted against the directive on restructuring the "Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity" (A5-0302/2003). The amendment aims at giving tax benefits to environmentally friendly sources of energy, which would make them cheaper and more competitive to conventional (more polluting) sources of energy. It also gives tax benefits to environmentally friendly uses of energy for transport, for instance trains. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Voted against the amendment on Bulgaria’s progress towards accession (A5-0105/2004). The report objects to extending the life of the nuclear power stations in Bulgaria.

Personal Information

Curriculum Vitae

• Military service in Koblenz (1979-1980).
• Law studies in Mainz and Dijon (1981-1987); first state law examination (1987).
• Trainee lawyer (1987-1990); second state law examination (1990).
• At the diplomatic training establishment of the Foreign Office (1990-1991).
• Competition for the senior foreign service (1991).
• International environment policy specialist at the FO (1991-1993).
• Specialist in the CDU international office (1993-1995).
• Head of section, Baltic and Scandinavian states, and Baltic Council, Foreign Office (1995-1999).
• Municipal councillor in Hattersheim/Main (1986-1989).
• Member of Main-Taunus district council (1989-2001).
• Delegate to the regional planning assembly, Darmstadt province (1993-1997).
• Municipal, district and regional chairman of Junge Union (1985-1993).
• Member of the international commission of Junge Union, Germany (1990-1995).
• Deputy Chairman of the Main-Taunus branch of the CDU (1994-2000).
• Delegate to the EPP congress (since 1995).
• Member of the European Parliament (since 1999).

Contact

Address:

Parlement européen

Bât. Altiero Spinelli

10E217

60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel

Phone:

+32 (0)2 28 45977

Email:

michael.gahler@europarl.europa.eu

Website:

http://www.michael-gahler.de

Resources

• European Parliament, Erklärung der finanziellen Interessen der Mitglieder: Michael Gahler, 03 December 2008, accessed 09 March 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Michael Gahler, accessed 09 March 2009.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 09 March 2009.