Martin Bangemann is a German politician and a former leader of the FDP (1985–1988). He studied Law in
TübingenTübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
and
MunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, earned a
Dr. jur.Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
(equivalent to
J.S.D.Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
) in 1962, and qualified as an attorney in 1964. He is married and has five children.
Career
Bangemann was a member of the
European ParliamentThe 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 1973 to 1984, from 1976 to 1979 he was vice-chairman, from 1979 to 1984 chairman of the
Liberal and Democratic GroupThe Group of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party was a liberal political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1994 and 2004. The group comprised the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and its constituent national-level parties.Its predecessors have existed since...
. Moreover, he was vice-chair of the Committee on Budgets from 1978 to 1979.
Bangemann was the German Federal Minister of Economics from 1984 to 1988.
In 1989, Bangemann joined the
European CommissionThe 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....
. He was Commissioner for the internal market and industrial affairs in the
Delors CommissionThe Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided over the European Commission for three terms The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided...
from 1989 to 1995. He was then Commissioner for Industrial affairs, Information & Telecommunications Technologies in the
Santer CommissionThe Santer Commission was the European Commission in office between 23 January 1995 and 15 March 1999. The administration was led by Jacques Santer ....
from 1995 to 1999.