Christos Papoutsis


Christos Papoutsis is a Greek socialist politician who has served as Minister for Citizen Protection, Minister for [Mercantile Marine and Island Policy (Greece)|Mercantile Marine Minister] Member of the European Parliament and European Commissioner for Energy and Energy Community|Euratom Supply Agency], Small business and Tourism. He has also served as the Secretary of the Parliamentary Group and Parliamentary Spokesman for the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, the majority party in Greece. He also was candidate for Mayor of Athens.

Early life and education

He was born in Larissa, Greece, in 1953 and later moved to Athens where he studied Economics at the National and [Kapodistrian University of Athens|National and Kapodistrian University]. After his university years he became politically active in the Democratic Movement against the Greek military junta – dictatorship- of 1967–1974.

Political career

On July 12, 2013, he was appointed as Greece's Representative to the World Bank.

2010-2012 Minister of Citizen Protection

He served as Minister of Citizen Protection responsible for the national security of the country, with the PASOK government serving under Prime Minister George Papandreou, and in the coalition government under Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.

2000-2012 Member of the Greek Parliament

Member of the Greek Parliament for Athens through four general elections, following his return to Greece after 16 years of serving in the European Institutions.

During this period held the positions of:
  • Secretary of PASOK parliamentary group.
  • Parliamentary Spokesman of the President of PASOK George Papandreou.
  • Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs. Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense policy.
  • Member of the Committee on Economic Policy.
  • Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Production and Trade.
  • Member of the Committee on Environmental Protection.
Since 2000 he has been elected consecutively member of the Hellenic Parliament with PASOK.

2002 Candidate for Mayor of Athens

In 2002 he was a candidate for Mayor of Athens in the local elections. As Leader of the Opposition he served in the Municipal Council Athens.

2000-2001 Minister of Mercantile Marine

Minister of Mercantile Marine in the Government of PASOK under Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

1995-1999 European Commissioner

He was appointed European Commissioner for Energy under the Santer Presidency, with an extended portfolio pertaining to Energy, EURATOM Supply Agency, SMEs, Tourism and Social Economy. During his mandate he put forward a series of policies in the areas of Green Energy, Enterprise Policy, Commerce, Tourism and Social Economy.
During 1995 to 1999 held the following positions/had the following responsibilities:
  • European Commissioner under the Presidency of the European Commission by Jacques Santer.
  • Responsible for Energy Policy and EURATOM Supply Agency, Enterprise Policy, Commerce, Tourism and Social Economy.
  • Represented the European Commission at the E.U. Councils of Ministers for Energy and for Competitiveness, the OECD Council of Ministers and the G8.

1984-1995 Member of the European Parliament

From 1984 to 1995, he was elected Member of the European Parliament for three consecutive terms. During this period he held the positions of Vice-President of the Socialist Group of the European Parliament and Head of PASOK MEP delegation in the European Parliament.
Along with his mandate in the European Parliament, he served as International Relations Secretary and PASOK Representative at the Socialist International, from 1988 to 1994.
During 1984 - 1995 period held the following positions:
  • Vice president of the Parliamentary Group of the European Socialist Party at the European Parliament.
  • Head of PASOK MEP’s.
  • Member of the Budget Committee.
  • Member of the Committee on Economic, Monetary and Industrial Policy.
  • Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defense Policy.
  • Member of the Inter-parliamentary delegation E.P.-USA Congress on relations between the European Union and the U.S..
  • Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary delegation E.P.-Canada.

Publications

  • European Destinations, by Christos Papoutsis, 1994,
  • The Colour of the Future, by Christos Papoutsis, 1998,
  • For Europe in the 21st Century, by Christos Papoutsis, 1999,