Former President of the European Parliament

Enrique Barón Crespo

Spanish politician, economist, and lawyer. He is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and sits with the Party of European Socialists group in the European Parliament. Enrique Barón graduated in business administration in Paris and Madrid, and in law from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). As a practicing lawyer, he specialised in labour law and human rights under Franco’s dictatorship (1970-1977). He was a Deputy in the Cortes (1977-1987) and was Minister of Transport, Tourism and Communications, having concluded the negotiations for accession to te European Community (1982-1985). He was Member of the European Parliament (1986-2009), President of the European Parliament (1989-1992) and Chairman of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (1992-1995) and on International Trade (2004-2007). He was PES Group chairman (1999-2004). He is President of the Yehudi Menuhin International Foundation and the European Foundation for the Information Society. He is vice-President of the Opera and Poetry Institute of Verona and member of the board of the Dalí Foundation. He speaks seven European languages. He is the author of several essays, articles and books on political, economic and social issues.