Max van den Berg
Encyclopedia
Margrietus Johannes van den Berg (ˈmɑr.ˌɣri.tʏs ˈjoː.ˌɦɑ.nəs (ˈmɑks) vɐn dən ˈbɛrx) (born March 22, 1946) is a Dutch
politician
and member of the Dutch Labour Party
. From 1979 to 1986 he was the chairperson of that party and from 1999 to 2007 he was a Member of the European Parliament
. Since 2007 he has been the Queen's Commissioner
in Groningen
.
, Netherlands
.
His high school was the Carmelieten Paters in Oldenzaal. In 1969 he received his degree in sociology
in Groningen, where he specialized in urban planning and political science. From 1969 to 1970 he was an academic staff member and lecturer at the sociology faculty of the Groningen University.
in Groningen, the last six years he was also the deputy mayor
of Groningen.
From April 26, 1979 to April 25, 1986 he was the chairperson of the Labour Party
.
From 1986 to 1999 he was the secretary-general of the non-governmental organisation Novib
.
From July 20, 1999 to September 1, 2007 he was a Member of the European Parliament
. He was the leader of the PvdA delegation in the European Parliament, and from 1999 to 2004 he was also vice-chairman of the Committee on Development and Cooperation. He is also a substitute for the Committee on International Trade
and the Subcommittee on Human Rights
, vice-chair of the delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community, a substitute for the delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
, and a member of the temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the Dutch Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
. From 1979 to 1986 he was the chairperson of that party and from 1999 to 2007 he was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
. Since 2007 he has been the Queen's Commissioner
Queen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
in Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
.
Early life
Margrietus Johannes van den Berg was born on March 22, 1946 in AmmerstolAmmerstol
Ammerstol is a village in the municipality of Bergambacht, in the Netherlands. It is located about 12 km southeast of Gouda, on the Lek River.Between 1817 and 1985, Ammerstol was a separate municipality....
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
His high school was the Carmelieten Paters in Oldenzaal. In 1969 he received his degree in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in Groningen, where he specialized in urban planning and political science. From 1969 to 1970 he was an academic staff member and lecturer at the sociology faculty of the Groningen University.
Political career
From September 1, 1970 to September 5, 1978 Max van den Berg was an aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Groningen, the last six years he was also the deputy mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
of Groningen.
From April 26, 1979 to April 25, 1986 he was the chairperson of the Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
.
From 1986 to 1999 he was the secretary-general of the non-governmental organisation Novib
Oxfam Novib
Oxfam Novib is the Dutch affiliate of the international Oxfam organization. It is an association dedicated to establishing a fair world with no poverty in it. The organization is based in The Hague.Oxfam Novib was founded under the name Novib in 1956...
.
From July 20, 1999 to September 1, 2007 he was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
. He was the leader of the PvdA delegation in the European Parliament, and from 1999 to 2004 he was also vice-chairman of the Committee on Development and Cooperation. He is also a substitute for the Committee on International Trade
Committee on International Trade
The Committee on International Trade INTA is a committee of the European Parliament.-External links:*...
and the Subcommittee on Human Rights
Subcommittee on Human Rights
The Subcommittee on Human Rights is a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament. The committee is chaired by Barbara Lochbihler .- See also :* Sakharov Prize...
, vice-chair of the delegation for relations with the countries of the Andean Community, a substitute for the delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the European Union and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states that have signed the Cotonou Agreement.Since the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union...
, and a member of the temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013.
Organisations
Max van den Berg is or was a member of several organisations:- Member of Eurostep (1990-1999)
- Member of Oxfam International (1995-1999)
- Member of the board of governors of the African Studies CentreAfrika-Studiecentrum, LeidenThe African Studies Centre is an independent scientific institute in the Netherlands that undertakes social-science research on Africa with the aim of promoting a better understanding of historical, current and future social developments in Sub-Saharan Africa. The present director is Ton Dietz...
, Leiden - Member of the management board of the Jan Vrijman Foundation
- Chairman of the management board, Theater Zeebelt, The Hague
- Member of the management board of Wereldomroep (Radio Netherlands International), Zeist
- Member of the management board of the Design Academy, Eindhoven