John Fitzmaurice
Encyclopedia
John Fitzmaurice was an administrator, academic and writer. He was an author of numerous books and articles on politics, concentrating on party politics and elections. He was an official of the European Commission
and a lecturer at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
.
Fizmaurice was educated at Shaftesbury Grammar School and the University of Bristol
. He obtained a Certificate of Education at Oxford People College.
His political career began when he contested Yeovil
in 1987. He went on to contest North Dorset
in 1992 and 1997. Fitzmaurice became secretary of the Brussels Labour Party
and the Vice-chair of Brussels Co-operative Party
. He went on to work as an administrator for the European Commission
, Brussels, in the Department for Liaison with the European Parliament
. While in that post he travelled extensively, mainly to carry out research for his next publications.
After he died unexpectedly, a commemoration service was held on 12 November 2003 in the Brussels Van Maerlant Chapel. Among others, Neil Kinnock
, Vice-President of the European Commission from 1995 until 2004, and Julian Priestley
from the European Parliament, spoke during this service.
In memory of John Fitzmaurice, an annual lecture around the themes of democracy
, socialism
and Europe
, is held in Brussels. At the 2007 lecture, Geoff Hoon
dedicated his speech to Fitzmaurice. He said:
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
and a lecturer at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
.
Fizmaurice was educated at Shaftesbury Grammar School and the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. He obtained a Certificate of Education at Oxford People College.
His political career began when he contested Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
in 1987. He went on to contest North Dorset
North Dorset
North Dorset is a local government district in Dorset, England. It is largely rural, but includes the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset is in the River Stour valley and is called the Blackmore Vale...
in 1992 and 1997. Fitzmaurice became secretary of the Brussels Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and the Vice-chair of Brussels Co-operative Party
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
. He went on to work as an administrator for the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, Brussels, in the Department for Liaison with 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...
. While in that post he travelled extensively, mainly to carry out research for his next publications.
After he died unexpectedly, a commemoration service was held on 12 November 2003 in the Brussels Van Maerlant Chapel. Among others, Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
, Vice-President of the European Commission from 1995 until 2004, and Julian Priestley
Julian Priestley
Sir Julian Priestley , Secretary-General of the European Parliament from 1997-2007.He was educated at St Boniface's Catholic College, Plymouth, and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1972 with an honours degree in philosophy, politics and economics . He was President of the Oxford Union and...
from the European Parliament, spoke during this service.
In memory of John Fitzmaurice, an annual lecture around the themes of democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, is held in Brussels. At the 2007 lecture, Geoff Hoon
Geoff Hoon
Geoffrey "Geoff" William Hoon is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010...
dedicated his speech to Fitzmaurice. He said:
...it is also a particular honour to give the Brussels Labour Annual Lecture in memory of our colleague and friend, John Fitzmaurice. I knew John during my time in the European Parliament. He then went on to work for the Commission Secretariat General focusing on the relationship between the Commission and the Parliament until his sad death in 2003. John was passionate about European politics and in particular the European Parliament throughout his life and career. I hope that it is something that I have in common with him.
Works
- Party Groups in the European Parliament (1975, Ashgate);
- The European Parliament (1978, Dartmouth);
- The European Parliament (1979, Penguin special, with Robert Jackson);
- Politics in Denmark (1981, Hurst);
- Politics in Belgium (1983, Hurst);
- Québec and Canada: past, present and future (1985, Hurst);
- Security and Politics in the Nordic Area (1987, Avebury);
- Austrian Politics and Society Today (1991, Macmillan);
- The Baltic: A Regional Future? (1992, Macmillan);
- The Politics of Belgium, A Unique Federalism (1996, Westview Press);
- Damming the Danube: Gabcikovo and Post-Communist Politics in Europe (1996, Westview Press)
- Politics and Government in the Visegrad Countries (1998, Macmillan)