Born in 1953. Lisboa, Setúbal, Leiria. Medical Doctor. Past: Secretary General of the Group of European Liberal Democrats and Reformist Party (ELDR) on the European Parliament (1994-1996); Secretary General of the Group of the European People´s Party (EPP) at the European Parliament (April 1997- July 1999); Political Adviser to Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Barroso (April 2002- July 2004); Head of the Transition Office of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso (July 2004); Secretary of State for European Affairs on the XVI Government of Portugal (July 2004-March 2005); Member of the Portuguese Parliament (March 2005-July 2009). Currently: Vice-President of the European People´s Party (EPP); Deputy Secretary General of the Centrist Democrat International. MEP since 2009.