Born in 1948. Warsaw I. Master of Arts 1971, Ph.D 1974, Post doctorate 1981, Professor of economics 1992, Warsaw School of Economics. 2004-2009, EU Commissioner for Regional Policy. 2003-2004, Minister for European Affairs. 2001-2003, Secretary of State in charge of European integration, Foreign Ministry. 2000-2001, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Europe. 1998-2001, Economic advisor to the President of Poland. 1998-2000, Deputy Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Europe. 1997-1998, Minister, Head of the Chancellery of the Polish President. 1996-1997, Chief Negotiator for Poland’s accession to the OECD. MEP since 2009.