Marcelino Oreja, 1st Marquess of Oreja facts for kids

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Oreja in 2014
European Commissioner for Transport
In office 1994–1995
President	Jacques Delors
Preceded by	Abel Matutes
Succeeded by	Neil Kinnock
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 7 July 1976 – 8 September 1980
Prime Minister	Adolfo Suárez
Preceded by	José María de Areilza, Count of Motrico
Succeeded by	José Pedro Pérez-Llorca
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
In office 1 October 1984 – 1 June 1989
Preceded by	Franz Karasek
Succeeded by	Catherine Lalumière
Personal details
Born	(1935-02-13) 13 February 1935 (age 90) Madrid, Spanish Republic
Political party	People's Party
Other political affiliations	Union of the Democratic Centre
Parent	Marcelino Oreja Elósegui

Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, 1st Marquess of Oreja (born 13 February 1935) is a Spanish lawyer, diplomat, and politician. He was a member of the People's Party. He served as Spain's Foreign Minister from 1976 to 1980. Later, he was the Secretary General of the Council of Europe from 1984 to 1989. He also worked as a member of the European Parliament and as a European Commissioner.

Marcelino Oreja's Career

Marcelino Oreja was born in Madrid, Spain, on February 13, 1935. His father was Marcelino Oreja Elósegui.

Starting in Politics

In May 1973, Marcelino Oreja helped start a group called the Grupo Tácito in Madrid. This group included thinkers, politicians, and journalists. Some had worked with the previous government, while others wanted Spain to become a democracy.

The group wanted Spain to become a democratic country after the rule of Francisco Franco ended. They were active during a time of big changes in Spain, from 1973 to 1976. Oreja chose the name "Tácito" after a Roman historian. This name meant that not everything could be said openly because of government rules at the time.

Foreign Minister of Spain

Marcelino Oreja became Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs on July 5, 1976. He held this important job until 1980.

One of his first tasks was to change an agreement Spain had with the Vatican from 1953. This led to new agreements in July 1976 that helped separate the church and the government in Spain. The Spanish leader no longer had the right to choose Roman Catholic bishops. In return, the Vatican gave up its right to have special church courts.

Two months later, Oreja signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Spain. This showed Spain's commitment to human rights.

On November 24, 1977, in Strasbourg, Oreja signed the agreement for Spain to join the Council of Europe. This meant Spain agreed to follow the European Convention on Human Rights, which became law in Spain on October 4, 1979.

Leading the Council of Europe

From 1984 to 1989, Marcelino Oreja served as the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. This is a top leadership role in an organization that promotes human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across Europe.

European Parliament and Commissioner

In 1989, he was elected to the European Parliament, where he worked until June 28, 1993.

In 1994, Oreja was appointed a European Commissioner. He first worked on transport and energy issues. Later, he became the European Commissioner for institutional relations and communication strategy. This role involved helping different parts of the European Union work together and communicate better.

After Politics

After his time as a European Commissioner, Oreja retired from active political life and returned to Spain. He continued to be involved in many other areas. He became the head of the Institute for European Studies at CEU San Pablo University. He also served as Vice-Chair of the BBV Foundation starting in 1996. Several universities, including Zaragoza and Seville, gave him honorary doctorates in 1996.

Personal Life

Marcelino Oreja is married to Silvia Arburúa. Her father was Minister Manuel Arburúa de la Miyar. Marcelino and Silvia have two sons, named Marcelino and Manuel.

Other Activities

Marcelino Oreja has been involved in several important organizations:

• He is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Elcano Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies.
• He is a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Moral and Political Sciences (RACMP).
• He is also a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation (RAJL).

Recognition

On April 8, 2010, Marcelino Oreja was given the title of Marquess of Oreja. This is a special honor in Spain.

See also

In Spanish: Marcelino Oreja Aguirre para niños