Philippe Busquin (French pronunciation: [filip byskɛ̃]; born 6 January 1941) is a Belgian politician.

Philippe Busquin
Official portrait, 1999
European Commissioner for Research
In office
13 September 1999 – 12 September 2004
PresidentRomano Prodi
Preceded byÉdith Cresson (Research, Science and Technology)
Succeeded byLouis Michel
Leader of the Socialist Party
In office
1992–1999
Preceded byGuy Spitaels
Succeeded byElio Di Rupo
Personal details
Born (1941-01-06) 6 January 1941 (age 83)
Feluy, Belgium
Political partySocialist Party
Alma materFree University of Brussels

Busquin was born in Feluy. He was a 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. His tendency to stutter has been the subject of satirical videos on YouTube, some garnering hundreds of thousands of hits.[1]

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

Education

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Career

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  • 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)

Honours

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He was awarded:[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Video on YouTube
  2. ^ Belgian Senate, Biography
  3. ^ "HW minutes 2004" (PDF).
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Political offices
Preceded by Belgian European Commissioner
1999–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded byas European Commissioner for Research, Science and Technology European Commissioner for Research
1999–2004
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Socialist Party
1992–1999
Succeeded by