Hans-Gert Pöttering Facts for Kids

"Pottering" redirects here. For the software developer, see Lennart Poettering.

Quick facts for kids Hans-Gert Pöttering
Pöttering in 2014

President of the European Parliament
In office 16 January 2007 – 14 July 2009
Vice President	Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou
Preceded by	Josep Borrell
Succeeded by	Jerzy Buzek
Leader of the European People's Party-European Democrats
In office 20 July 1999 – 16 January 2007
Preceded by	Wilfried Martens
Succeeded by	Joseph Daul
Member of the European Parliament for Germany
In office 17 July 1979 – 30 June 2014
Chair of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
In office 1 January 2010 – 1 December 2018
Preceded by	Bernhard Vogel
Succeeded by	Norbert Lammert

Personal details
Born	(1945-09-15) 15 September 1945 (age 79) Bersenbrück, Germany
Political party	Christian Democratic Union
Children	Johannes Benedict
Residences	Bad Iburg, Germany
Alma mater	University of Bonn University of Geneva Graduate Institute of International Studies Columbia University
Profession	Lawyer
Website	Official website: http://www.kas.de/wf/en/71.7632/

Hans-Gert Pöttering (born 15 September 1945) is a German lawyer and politician. He was the President of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009. He also led the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a political foundation, from 2010 to 2017.

Mr. Pöttering was a Member of the European Parliament for a long time. He served from 1979 until 2014. When he left, he was the member who had served the longest. As President of the European Parliament, he suggested creating the House of European History museum in Brussels.

Early Life and Education
Political Career Highlights
Political Views
Awards and Recognition
Personal Life
Books and Publications
See also

Early Life and Education

Hans-Gert Pöttering was born in 1945. His father died in the Second World War before he could meet him. After finishing school and serving in the military, he went to university. He studied law, political science, and history.

He attended several universities, including the University of Bonn in Germany, the University of Geneva in Switzerland, and Columbia University in New York, USA. He became a qualified lawyer in 1976. He also earned a PhD in political science and history in 1974. His PhD was about West German defense policy.

Political Career Highlights

Serving in the European Parliament (1979–2014)

Hans-Gert Pöttering was a member of the European Parliament for 35 years. He was the only member to serve continuously since the first elections in 1979. This made him the longest-serving member when he retired.

From 1984 to 1994, he led the Subcommittee on Security and Defence. This group focused on how Europe stays safe. He also helped shape the European People's Party's ideas for the Treaty of Amsterdam. This treaty was an important agreement for the European Union.

Mr. Pöttering became Vice-President of the European People's Party (EPP) in 1994. From 1999 to 2007, he was the leader of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament. He was also the main candidate for his party, the CDU, in the 2004 and 2009 European elections.

President of the European Parliament (2007–2009)

Pöttering with President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso at the EPP Congress in Warsaw, 29 April 2009

In 2007, Hans-Gert Pöttering became the President of the European Parliament. This happened as part of an agreement with another political group. He was elected with a large number of votes.

As President, he started the idea for the House of European History project. This museum in Brussels tells the story of Europe. He mentioned this idea in his first speech as President in 2007. He still serves on the Board of Trustees for this museum.

Later Career and Activities

After his time as President, Mr. Pöttering continued his work. In 2009, he was chosen to lead the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. This foundation promotes democracy and political education. He held this role until 2018.

In 2019, he was part of a group of experts. They were asked to check if a Hungarian political party, Fidesz, was following the values of the European People's Party.

Political Views

Hans-Gert Pöttering is known for supporting a strong and united Europe. He believes in the idea of a "Federal Europe". He has also been an ally of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He once said his main goal was to renew the European Constitution.

In 2020, he joined many other former European leaders. They signed a letter criticizing a Middle East peace plan. They felt it would create an unfair situation for Palestinians.

Awards and Recognition

Hans-Gert Pöttering has received many awards and honors. These show his important contributions.

National and Foreign Honors

Germany: Great Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2010)
Austria: Grand Golden Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2002)
Holy See: Grand Cross of the Papal Order of St Gregory the Great (2007)
Croatia: Great Cross of Merit of the Grand Order of Queen Jelena with Star and Shoulder Ribbon (2007)
Italy: 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2008)
Ukraine: 2nd Class of the Order of Prince Jaroslaw the Wise (2008)
Latvia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars (2009)
Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Portugal) (2009)
France: Commander of the Legion of Honour (2011)
Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit of the Kingdom of Spain (2011)
Poland: Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2013)
Lithuania: Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2013)
Hungary: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic (2013)
Estonia: 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (2013)
Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (2014)
Tunisia: Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Tunisia (2016)