Geoffrey Van Orden
Geoffrey Charles Van Orden (born April 10, 1945 in Waterlooville , Hampshire ) is a British politician and former soldier. From 1999 to January 31, 2020 he sat for the Conservative Party in the European Parliament . He is the holder of the Order of the British Empire .
Youth and career
Van Orden attended Mons Officer Cadet School , a military school, and joined the British Army's Intelligence Corps in 1964 . In 1966 he was promoted to lieutenant , in 1970 to captain , in 1977 to major , in 1983 to lieutenant colonel , in 1988 to colonel and finally to brigadier in 1991 . In the same year he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.
From 1964 to 1985 he served in the British Army around the world. In 1985 he became a trainer for Bundeswehr personnel in Hamburg . From 1988 he became Chief of Staff of the British Sector in West Berlin . In 1990 Van Orden worked for the Joint Intelligence Committee , which oversees British intelligence. From 1991 to 1994 he worked as the Executive Secretary of the International Military Staff at NATO headquarters in Brussels .
Between 1995 and 1999 he was an advisor to the European Commission on foreign and security issues. In 1999 he was elected to the European Parliament for the British Conservatives.
European Parliament
After his election to the European Parliament, Van Orden became the Conservatives' security policy spokesman. Since 2002 he has been Vice-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy . Van Orden was rapporteur for the European Union during Bulgaria's accession to the EU . His final report, which he presented in November 2006, confirmed Bulgaria eligibility for accession.
From 2009 to 2014 Van Orden was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Security and Defense and the Delegation for Relations with Iran. He was deputy in the Committee on Transport and Tourism and in the delegation in the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, in the Delegation for relations with India and in the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Political position
Van Orden is a Eurosceptic . He is against British membership of the euro area , against the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and against the Lisbon Treaty . He had long campaigned for his party to leave the European People's Party . This goal was achieved in 2009. He is also a member of the Countryside Alliance and the International Institute for Strategic Studies .
Personal
Van Orden is married and has three daughters.
Web links
- Entry for Geoffrey Van Orden in the database of Members of the European Parliament
- Official website
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Van Orden, Geoffrey |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Van Orden, Geoffrey Charles (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British politician, MEP and soldier |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 10, 1945 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Waterlooville , Hampshire |