I was born in Stuttgart, grew up in Leipzig and studied computer science in Dresden. From March 1990 I was a member of the first freely elected People’s Chamber in the GDR and from October to December 1990 I was a member of the first all-German Bundestag. I have been a member of the European Parliament since February 1991, initially as an observer and since 1994 as an elected member. As former chairman of the SPD Saxony, I am the only East German SPD member in the European Parliament for the 2019-2024 legislative period. The work focuses on regional policy.
Personal data
- born on October 14, 1956
- living in Leipzig since 1957
- divorced, 2 children
- Abitur in Leipzig
- Computer science studies in Dresden
- Graduated as a qualified computer scientist
Political biography
- since 2004 member of the committee for regional development and coordinator of the Socialist Group in the committee
- Member of the Belarus delegation since 2019
- since 2019 deputy member of the committee for environmental issues, public health and food safety
- 2014-2019 member of the delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee
- 2014-2019 deputy member of the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy
- 2014-2019 alternate member of the Delegation for relations with the United States
- 2009-2019 member of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the countries of Central America and in EUROLAT
- 2010-2011 Deputy Member of the Special Committee on Political Challenges and Budgetary Means for a Sustainable European Union after 2013
- 2004-2014 deputy member of the delegation in the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee
- 2004-2014 deputy member of the budget committee
- 1994-2004 deputy member of the Transport Committee
- 1994-2004 member of the Budget Committee
- 2002-2004 deputy member of the delegation in the EU-Czech Republic joint parliamentary committee
- 2002-2004 member of the delegation for EP relations with Japan
- 1994-2002 President of the Delegation for EP relations with Russia
- since 1994 member of the European Parliament
- 02 / 1991-06 / 1994 observer of the European Parliament
- 10-12 / 1990 member of the Bundestag
- 1999-2005 member of the federal executive committee of the SPD
- 1999-2004 state chairwoman of the SPD Saxony
- 1996-1999 deputy chairwoman of the SPD sub-district of Leipzig
- 1996-1999 deputy state chairwoman of the SPD Saxony
- 1990 election to the People’s Chamber