Born in 1968. Porto, Bragança, Vila Real. Graduate in Law, Catholic University of Porto (1991). Master in Legal and Political Sciences, University of Coimbra (1993-94). Currently preparing a Doctorate thesis on Constitutional Law. Research studies at the European Institute of Florence and at the Universities of Bologna, Genoa and Freiburg. Deputy State Secretary to the Minister for Justice (July 2004 -March 2005). Chairman of the PSD Parliamentary Group in the Portuguese Parliament. Member of the Directive Board of the Commercial Association of Porto. Published Books: Repensar o Poder Judicial, Porto (2001); Reserva de Jurisdição; Sentido Dogmático e Sentido Jurisprudencial, Porto (1997); Concertação, Programação e Direito do Ambiente, Coimbra (1994); Guerras Surdas - Crónicas da Tensão Política, Coimbra (2005); O estado do Estado, Lisboa (2009); Uma Democracia sustentável (2010). Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group. MEP since 2009.