Hans Furler
Encyclopedia
Hans Furler was a German christian-democrat politician.
He was the president
of the European Parliament
from 1956 to 1958 and from 1960 to 1962.
in the Baden
portion of the Black Forest
. After graduating from Lahr grammar school, Furler studied law in Freiburg in Breisgau
, Berlin and Heidelberg
. In 1925 he passed his first state examination and in 1928 he earned his doctorate with a thesis on "The Police's emergency measures and the state's obligation to compensate".
In December 1928, he passed the assessor's examination and first worked as an advocate in Pforzheim
. Since 1930 he also lectured in patent law.
In 1932, he habilitated at Technical University Karlsruhe. In 1940, the University appointed him extraordinary professor for industrial property and copyright.
From 1945 to 1948 he worked as the lawyer of a paper factory owned by his in-laws. In 1948 he opened a new law firm in Freiburg.
After 1950 he lectured at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg.
and was soon elected chairman of the economic council of the party's Baden branch.
Furler was a member of the Bundestag from 1953 until 1972, representing the consticuency of Offenburg
. Until 1957, he was vice chairman of the committee for industrial property and copyright, in 1957 he was briefly chairman of the special committee "common market/EURATOM". From 1959 to 1960 he was chairman of the committee of foreign affairs.
, first of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community
(1955–1958) and then of the European Parliamentary Assembly of the European Communities (1958–1973). He served as president of these bodies from 1956 to 1958 and from 1960 to 1962 and as vice president from 1962 to 1973.
From 1958 to 1966, he was President of the German Council of the European Movement.
He was the president
President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Parliament presides over the debates and activities of the European Parliament. He or she also represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally. The President's signature is required for enacting most EU laws and the EU budget.Presidents serve...
of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
from 1956 to 1958 and from 1960 to 1962.
Early life
Furler was born in LahrLahr
Lahr is a city in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany, approximately 38 km north of Freiburg in Breisgau and 100 km south of Karlsruhe...
in the Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
portion of the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
. After graduating from Lahr grammar school, Furler studied law in Freiburg in Breisgau
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, Berlin and Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. In 1925 he passed his first state examination and in 1928 he earned his doctorate with a thesis on "The Police's emergency measures and the state's obligation to compensate".
In December 1928, he passed the assessor's examination and first worked as an advocate in Pforzheim
Pforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
. Since 1930 he also lectured in patent law.
In 1932, he habilitated at Technical University Karlsruhe. In 1940, the University appointed him extraordinary professor for industrial property and copyright.
From 1945 to 1948 he worked as the lawyer of a paper factory owned by his in-laws. In 1948 he opened a new law firm in Freiburg.
After 1950 he lectured at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg.
German politics
In 1952, Furler joined the Christian-Democratic UnionChristian Democratic Union (Germany)
The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
and was soon elected chairman of the economic council of the party's Baden branch.
Furler was a member of the Bundestag from 1953 until 1972, representing the consticuency of Offenburg
Offenburg
Offenburg is a city located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With about 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city and the capital of the Ortenaukreis.Offenburg also houses University of Applied Sciences Offenburg...
. Until 1957, he was vice chairman of the committee for industrial property and copyright, in 1957 he was briefly chairman of the special committee "common market/EURATOM". From 1959 to 1960 he was chairman of the committee of foreign affairs.
European politics
From 1955 to 1973, he also was a member of the precursors to the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, first of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community
European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
(1955–1958) and then of the European Parliamentary Assembly of the European Communities (1958–1973). He served as president of these bodies from 1956 to 1958 and from 1960 to 1962 and as vice president from 1962 to 1973.
From 1958 to 1966, he was President of the German Council of the European Movement.
Publications
- Das polizeiliche Notrecht und die Entschädigungspflicht des Staates, Diss.jur., Heidelberg 1928
- "Parlamente über den Nationen. Entwicklung, Zustand und Aussichten in Europa", in: Die Politische Meinung, 1957, Heft 11, p. 17–28.
- Reden und Aufsätze 1953–1957 (undated)
- Im neuen Europa. Erlebnisse und Erfahrungen im Europäischen Parlament, Frankfurt/Main 1963
Literature
- Horst Ferdinand, Adolf Kohler. Für Europa. Hans Furlers Lebensweg. Bonn 1977.
- Claudia Philipp. "Hans Furler – Ein Europäer der ersten Stunde", in: Die Osterweiterung der EU. Stuttgart 2004.
- Georg Lutz et al. Europa – eine Vision wird Wirklichkeit. Hans Furler 1904–1975. Oberkirch, 2004