Hans-Gert Pöttering

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Hans-Gert Pöttering, MEP

Hans-Gert Pöttering (born 15 September 1945, Bersenbrück, Niedersachsen) is an MEP from Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

Affiliations

• President, European Parliament
• President, Parliament's Bureau
• President, Conference of Presidents
• Chairman, Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
• Member, Conference of Delegation Chairmen

Record and Controversies

Declaration of Financial Interests

• Nothing to declare.

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

• Studied law, politics and history at the universities of Bonn and Geneva and the Institut des Hautes Études Internationales (Geneva).
• Studied at Columbia University, New York (1971).
• Doctorate (1974).
• Second state law examination (1976).
• Academic employee (1976-1979).
• Appointed lecturer at the University of Osnabrück (1989).
• Honorary professor (1995).
• European policy spokesman, Young Union of Lower Saxony (1974-1980).
• District Chair, Osnabrück CDU (since 1990).
• Chairman, Lower Saxony Europa Union (1981-1991).
• President of Europa Union Germany (since 1997).
• Member, Executive Committee and Federal Executive, CDU Germany (since 1999).
• EPP Vice-Chairman (since 1999).
• Member of the European Parliament (since 1979).
• Chairman, EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament (since 1999).
• Chairman, Subcommittee on Security and Defence (1992-1994).
• Chairman, Junge Union Friendship and Assistance Association, Osnabrück-Emsland.
• EPP Group Schuman Medal.
• Grand Order of Merit, Germany.
• Grand Decoration of the Republic of Austria.
• European Honorary Senator.
• Mérite Européen en or.
• MEP of the Year for 2004: award by European Voice.

Contact

Address:

Parlement européen

Bât. Paul-Henri Spaak

11B011

60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel

Phone:

+32 (0)2 28 45769

Fax

+32 (0)2 28 49769

Email:

hans-gert.poettering@europarl.europa.eu

Website:

http://www.cdu-lkos.de/poettering

Resources

• European Parliament, Erklärung der finanziellen Interessen der Mitglieder: Hans-Gert Pöttering, 14 January 2009, accessed 23 March 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Hans-Gert Pöttering, accessed 23 March 2009.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 23 March 2009.