Born in 1940. Silesian Region. President of the European Parliament (2009-2012). Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, 1997-2001. MEP since 2004, elected with the best result in Poland. Vice President of the European Energy Forum, 2004. The Rapporteur for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. MEP of the Year 2006 in the scientific research and technology category. Professor. Degree in chemical engineering at the Technical University of Silesia. Doctor honoris causa of the universities of Dortmund, Seoul, Isparta, the Technical University of Opole. Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and representative of Poland at the International Energy Agency. Member of the Solidarity Trade Union, 1980. President of the First Congress of Solidarity, 1981. MEP since 2004.