Philippe Busquin

Philippe Busquin
European Commissioner for Research
In office 13 September 1999 – 18 July 2004
President	Romano Prodi
Preceded by	Édith Cresson (Research, Science and Technology)
Succeeded by	Louis Michel
Leader of the Socialist Party
In office 1992–1999
Preceded by	Guy Spitaels
Succeeded by	Elio Di Rupo
Personal details
Born	6 January 1941 (1941-01-06) Feluy, Belgium
Political party	Socialist Party
Alma mater	Free University of Brussels

Philippe Busquin (born on 6 January 1941 in Feluy) is a Belgian politician. He was Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 for the French Community of Belgium with the Parti Socialiste, part of the Socialist Group and sat on the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Busquin was the chairman of the Science and Technology Options Assessment Panel. He also was a substitute for the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and a member of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

From 1999 to 2004, he was Member of the European Commission with responsibility for research.

His tendency to stutter has been ridiculed on a number of viral videos posted on Youtube, most famously in response to his term "artchurptéfnichmnéfnichchangement."

Education

• 1962: Degree in physics from the Free University of Brussels
• 1976: Postgraduate certificate in environmental studies
• 1980: First degree in philosophy at the Free University of Brussels

Career

• 1962–1977: Lecturer at the Nivelles teacher training college
• Assistant lecturer at the Free University of Brussels
• 1992–1999: Chairman of the PS
• since 1992: Vice-President of the Socialist International
• 1994–1996: Vice-President of the PES
• 1995–1999: Mayor of Seneffe
• 1977–1978: Ordinary Member for the province of Hainaut
• 1982–1986: Minister for the Budget and Energy for the Walloon Region
• 1986: Minister of Economic Affairs for the Walloon Region
• 1979–1994: Member of the national Parliament
• 1994–1999: Senator
• 1980–1982: Minister of Education
• 1981: Minister of the Interior
• 1987: Minister for Social Affairs
• since 1992: Minister of State
• 1999–2004: Member of the European Commission with responsibility for research
• 2004–2009: Member of the European Parliament (MEP)

See also: European Parliament election, 2004 (Belgium)

External links

• European Parliament biography of Philippe Busquin (incl. Speeches, Questions and Motions)
• Declaration (PDF) of financial interests (French)

References

Political offices
Preceded by Karel Van Miert	Belgian European Commissioner 1999–2004	Succeeded by Louis Michel
Preceded by Édith Cresson as European Commissioner for Research, Science and Technology	European Commissioner for Research 1999–2004
Party political offices
Preceded by Guy Spitaels	Leader of the Socialist Party 1992–1999	Succeeded by Elio Di Rupo