Former Government Minister, Commissioner of the European Union, Member of the Greek Parliament, Member of the European Parliament.

2010-2012

Minister of Citizen Protection responsible for the national security of the country,with the PASOK government serving under Prime Minister George Papandreou (2010-2011), and in the coalition government under Prime Minister Lucas Papademos (2011-2012).

Member of the Governmental Council on Foreign Affairs and National Defence.

Represented Greece at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of European Union.

         Major Achievements:

Created a stable, integrated framework for the supervision and coordination of all state services for internal security and civil protection of the country. Introduced structural and functional changes upgrading the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Fire Service. At the same time, modernized the institutional framework of the National Intelligence Service.

Established:

·      The Financial Police and the Cyber Crime Unit.

·      The Headquarters of the Hellenic Coast Guard.

·    A Coordination Unit for inter - service cooperation of the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Fire Service.

·   The Independent Unit for the Management of European and Development Programs, monitoring the execution of the Budget and the sound financial management of all services of the Ministry.

Created new structures of the Greek State for the implementation of the European Asylum policy and handling of illegal migration:

·     The Asylum Service, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

·      The Appeals Authority.

·   The First Reception Service for illegal immigrants with central and regional structure.

·      A joint force initiative with the participation of the Hellenic Police, the Hellenic Coast Guard and FRONTEX for the surveillance of land and sea borders of the country to tackle illegal immigration flows to Greece and Europe. To this end were developed:

o  An artificial barrier (fence) in the borderline between Greece and Turkey in Evros.

o  The border surveillance system with thermal cameras.

o  The National Border Management Coordination Center according to Schengen.

Further established:

·   Volunteer Fire Departments across the country.

·   A strategic plan for the full development of the European framework for civil protection.

·   For the first time in Greece issued national contingency plans for responding to natural disasters.

·   The Coast Guard Auxiliary for activating citizen volunteers.

·   A new legal framework tackling the phenomenon of modern piracy in merchant shipping.

·   The Office for dealing with arbitrary acts of uniformed officers.

2000-2012

Member of the Greek Parliament for Athens (PASOK party) through four general elections (2000, 2004, 2007, 2009), 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(2009-2010).

Parliamentary Spokesman (2007–2010) 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 Defence policy.

Member of the Committee on Economic Policy.

Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Production and Trade.

Member of the  Committee on Environmental Protection.

2002

Candidate for Mayor of Athens in the 2002 local elections. As Leader of the Opposition served in the Municipal Council (2002-2006) and participated in the preparation, organization and conduct of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

2000-2001

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

Represented Greece at the Transport Council of the European Union.

Promoted the competitiveness and prestige of the Hellenic Mercantile Marine with legislative initiatives for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment and the education of Greek seafarers.

·      Lifted Cabotage and deregulated Coastal Shipping, ensuring at the same time continuous connectivity of all the Greek islands.

·      Established the Regulatory Authority for Internal Maritime Transport to implement competition rules.

·      Introduced VTMIS (Vessel Traffic Monitoring & Information System) to monitor shipping in Greek seas and ports.

·      Formed, for the first time in Greece, a coherent policy for port development which included:

o  The establishment of the General Secretariat for Ports & Port Policy.

o  The promotion of the corporatisation of Piraeus Port Authority and Thessaloniki Port Authority.

o  The transformation of eleven Port Organisations of Strategic Importance - Alexandroupolis, Kavala, Volos, Patras, Igoumenitsa, Corfu, Eleusis, Lavrio, Rafina, Heraklion and Rhodes- into Corporations (S.A’s).

o  The transfer to Local Authorities responsibility for Port Funds, in coastal and island Greece.

·    Modernized and upgraded the Hellenic Coast Guard with new structures and uniform legislation for the first time since the founding law of 1919.

·      Modernized the air and sea vessels of the Coast Guard.

·    Presided over the start of the renovation of the building at “Vassiliadis Coast”, contributing to the regeneration of the wider area of Piraeus.

1995-1999

EU 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 OECD, the G8, the E.U. Council for Energy and the E.U. Council for Competitiveness.

                     
During his mandate, the European Commission has prioritized a combined European policy for energy and environmental protection with the adoption of the White Paper on European Energy Strategy, the White Paper and the Action Plan for the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources.

Specific multiannual programs were adopted (1998-2002) for Renewable Energy Sources (ALTENER), for the efficient use of energy (SAVE II), international energy cooperation (SYNERGY), the Environmental Technologies Action Plan for the promotion of eco-innovation and use of environmental technologies (ETAP), the AUTO-OIL program.

·      The multi-annual action plan (1998-2002) for the safety of nuclear facilities and the safe transfer of radio-active materials was approved, negotiations were concluded and the pact for the nuclear energy was signed between the E.U. and the U.S.A..

·      Held a leading role in the completion of negotiations and the adoption of the Directives on the deregulation of the internal electricity and natural gas markets, which founded the European Internal Energy Market.

·      The Trans-European Energy Networks planning was completed.

·      Regional cooperation in the energy sector of the EU with the Mediterranean countries, the countries of Southeastern Europe and the Baltic emerged as priority.

·      A stable framework for energy cooperation between the EU Russia and China was created.

Furthermore:

·      Presented, for the first time, a comprehensive and contemporary policy for entrepreneurship and the strengthening of competitiveness.

·      Several legislative initiatives and multi-annual programs were launched in support of SMEs, Commerce, Craft and Social Economy.

·      Several international meetings of EU business cooperation with the U.S., Latin America, Middle East, China and ASEAN countries were organised.

·      The Green and the White Papers on Commerce were adopted as well as a package of policies to reinforce commerce in agreement with the representatives of the member states of EU, Chambers of Commerce and workers.

·      The European Commission presented for the first time:

o  The Green Paper on Tourism.

o  The first multiannual program (PHILOXENIA) to enhance the tourism industry.

o  The multi-annual program (1995-1997) to support co-operatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations in the EU.

1984-1995

Member of the European Parliament for Greece, elected in the European elections of 1984, 1989, 1994.

Held the following positions:

·      Vice president of the Parliamentary Group of the European Socialist Party at the European Parliament (1987-1994).

·      Head of PASOK MEP’s (1987-1994).

·      Member of the Budget Committee.

·      Member of the Committee on Economic, Monetary and Industrial Policy.

·      Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy.

·   Member of the Inter-parliamentary delegation E.P.-USA Congress on relations between the European Union and the U.S. (1990 – 1995).

·      Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary delegation E.U.-Canada (1984 – 1989).

Further Political Activities and Positions held:

*  Participated in the student movement against dictatorship, the uprisings of the Law School of the Athens University and the National Technical University of Athens in 1973.

*  With the restoration of Democracy in Greece in 1974, became a member of PASOK, under the leadership of Andreas Papandreou.

*  Actively involved in the student movement as President of the National Student Union of Greece (EFEE 1978-1980).

*  Deputy Secretary of PASOK Youth (1978-1981).

*  Member of the Central Committee of PASOK (1977-2012) and repeatedly elected member of the Executive Bureau of PASOK (1995-2003).

*  Secretary of Organizing Policy of the Central Committee of PASOK (1982-1985).

*  Secretary of PASOK International Relations (1986-1995).

*  Member of the Bureau of the European Socialist Party (1988-1995).

*  Representative of the President Andreas Papandreou and PASOK at the Socialist International at the time of the presidency of Willy Brandt and Pierre Maurois.

Honours

*  Highest Mark of Distinction by the President of the Republic of Chile, the Gran Official of the Orden Libertador Bernando O'Higgins for his contribution to the restoration of democracy in Chile (15/04/1998).
 

*  Highest Mark of Distinction, with Cross, by the President of the Republic of Austria for his contribution to the accession of Austria to the European Union, (18/05/1995).

Publications

*  "For Europe in the 21st century" (1999).

*  "The Colour of the Future" (1998).

*  "European Destinations" (1994).

Education

Degree in Economics  - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Personal Details

        Date and place of Birth         : April 11th 1953 in Larissa, Greece

        Status                                      : Married to Lia Taliouri

        Children                                  : 1 daughter Zoi-Melina

Contact Details

        Office Address                     :  5, Lykavittou Str, GR-106 72 Athens

        Tel                                          :  +30 210 3387700, 3601740
        Fax                                         :  +30 210 3387708
        Web page                             : www.cpapoutsis.gr

        e-mail                                    : papoutsi@otenet.gr