Events

Born on 13 April 1947 in Strasbourg (France)
Married with two children

Farmer in Alsace (mixed farming)
Graduate of the Institute for Advanced Studies in National Defence (IHEDN)
Paris - 1981


Elective positions:

Member of the European Parliament (UMP, PPE-DE Group) since 1999
Chairman of the EPP-ED Group since 9 January 2007
Member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Substitute member of the Committee on International Trade and of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development from 2001 to 2007
Chairman of the Conference of Committee Chairmen from 2002 to 2007
Chairman of the Lisbon Strategy Group - 2006
Responsible for negotiations on Comitology in 2006
Member of the European Parliament Delegation at the WTO negotiations, responsible for agriculture (Seattle 1999 - Doha 2001 - Cancun 2003)

Deputy Mayor of Pfettisheim (Alsace) (Mayor from 1989 to 2001)
Vice-Chairman of the Kochersberg Intercommunal Community


Party responsibilities:

Member of the National Council of the 'Union pour un Mouvement Populaire' (UMP)
Vice-Chairman of the Bas-Rhin department UMP


Former professional activities:

Vice-Chairman of the National Centre of Young Farmers CNJA (1976-1980)
Chairman of the National Beef Producers' Federation FNB (1990-1999)
Vice-Chairman of the Bas-Rhin Agricultural Chamber (1993-1999)
Chairman of the National Stockfarmers' Confederation CNE (1993-1999)
Vice-Chairman of the National Federation of Farmers' Unions FNSEA (1993-1999)
Chairman of the National Cattle and Meat Association INTERBEV (1995-1999)
Chairman of the Meat Group of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union COPA (1996-1999)

Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (1980-1982)
Member of the French Economic and Social Committee (1991-1999)


Honorary Distinctions:

Officer of the Agricultural Order of Merit (1987)
Knight of the National Order of Merit (1994)
Knight of the Legion of Honour (1997)