Mr. Josep Borrel Fontelles is an MEP for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). He is the leader of the Socialist Delegation within the Party of European Socialists group. He was President of the European Parliament from July 2004 until January 2007. As of January 2007 he is chair of the Committee on Development.
Mr. Borrell has a distinguished academic record which includes a Degree in aeronautical engineering from the Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, a Master's degree in Energy Economics from the Institut français du Pétrole, Paris, a Master's degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Stanford (California) and a Honoris causa doctorate from the Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Between 1972 and 1981 Mr. Borrell worked as an engineer with the Compañía Española de Petróleos and was elected as a trade-union representative. His entry into politics began in 1979 when he was elected a councilor in Spain's first democratic municipal elections. He has since served as Secretary-General of the Budget, Treasury Minister, Minister for Public Works, Transport and the Environment, and in 1998 he won the PSOE’s primary elections to become the party’s candidate for the office of Prime Minister.
Mr. Borrell Fontelles has published over 100 articles on European issues, he has given lectures and taught doctoral courses on European politics and he recently published a book about his experiences as the representative of the Spanish Parliament at the European Convention. He is also a recipient of the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III.
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