Advice

How can I help?

After 15 years in the European Parliament I would like to remain active in the fields where I have built up special experience and knowledge. To my CV - elsewhere on this website - I would like to add the following.

In over thirty years I have acquired a thorough experience in international politics leading EP and other delegations, co-chairing election observation missions, making political assessments of complicated national situations, and so on.  This has allowed me to develop diplomatic and negotiating skills of use in different environments.

Since the end of the 1980s I have been involved in many activities meant to support the new democracies in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe- helping to develop viable and sustainable (party-) political landscapes.  More specifically, I have been active in Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Georgia. I know many of the players in these countries, both politicians and representatives of civil society. During the last five years as Vice-President of the PSE Group, I was also responsible for relations with the Russian Federation and as spokesperson for Turkey I dealt with this country extensively.

Minority issues in Central and Eastern Europe have been a key issue in my work. The situation of the Roma has had my special interest since 1997 when I became the EP's responsible for the accession of Slovakia to the EU. I am the President of the Spolu International Foundation which supports initiatives aiming to improve the socio-economic situation of Roma activities. The Washington based National Democratic Institute has invited me to lead an assessment on barriers to political participation among Roma in Europe.

I take a strong interest in Security and Defense (ESDP).  In the European Parliament, I helped to develop a broad security concept but I also worked extensively on nuclear non proliferation and disarmament issues. (My latest activity in this area involved the organization of an international conference in Brussels, bringing together key politicians, academics, and representatives of NGOs, to discuss the necessary steps in the coming years towards a world free of nuclear weapons.)

I have visited the United States many times which helped me to get a good insight in American politics and to establish many contacts - mainly Democratic- in political and NGO circles.

My management skills I developed as campaign director for four consecutive elections and as vice president of a large multinational political group. I have been in charge of many projects ranging from organizing large events to book publications.

If I can be of assistance in any of these areas to you or your organization, do not hesitate to contact me.

Download

'Politics of the Past: The Use and Abuse of History'

Onder redactie van Jan Marinus Wiersma en Hannes Swobonda

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'Peace and Disarmament: A world without Nuclear Weapons'

Onder redactie van Jan Marinus Wiersma en Hannes Swobonda

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'Democracy, Populism and Minority Rights'

Onder redactie van Jan Marinus Wiersma en Hannes Swobonda

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'Travels among Europe's Muslim Neighbours: The Quest for Democracy'

van Jan Marinus Wiersma en Joost Lagendijk