MEP AWARDS 2007

Much of Jorgo Chatzimarkakis' work in the research and technology field has centred around his support for a European Institute of Technology (EIT). He is the shadow rapporteur on the EIT report that is currently being discussed between institutions. Chatzimarkakis has argued that research is about turning money into knowledge and that innovation is about turning knowledge into money. He believes this should be the main aim of the EIT. Previously Chatzimarkakis was rapporteur on the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.

The German MEP sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He is a substitute for the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on International Trade. He is also a member of the Delegation to the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee. Before arriving in Brussels Chatzimarkakis worked as a science policy officer at the Bundestag in his native Germany.

Reino Paasilinna Is currently the rapporteur on Parliament's report on the European Institute of Technology (EIT.) The European Commission hopes the EU-wide institute will combine all elements of the so-called ‘knowledge triangle’ - innovation, research and education.

Paasilinna is the Socialist Party’s coordinator in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. And he was last year selected to be rapporteur on a report on European Information Society for growth and employment. Paasilinna's other political specialisations include telecommunications, Russia and energy. Paasilinna is currently vice-chair of the Parliament's Russia delegation. The Finnish socialist studied at both the University of Moscow and the University of Georgetown in the USA, and has a doctorate in social sciences from the University of Tampere in Finland. He worked in journalism before embarking on a career in politics.

Nicola Zingaretti is an Italian MEP from Rome whose main political interests include intellectual property rights. Last year, Zingaretti successfully steered through Parliament a complex report on criminal measures aimed at ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights. Sceptics doubted whether his report would receive the full backing of MEPs but Zingaretti managed to bring together Parliament's divergent groups and the report was passed in April. His was the first report on a directive by the European Commission that aims to introduce a harmonised system of penal sanctions in this increasingly important area. Zingaretti's other political interests include the internal market and consumer protection. In his native Italy he is also involved in left wing party politics in Rome.