Lead Candidate, Party of European Socialists (PES)
Spitzenkandidaten Debate, Speaker
Frans Timmermans is the transnational lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES) for the European Parliament Election 2019. Frans Timmermans began his career at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. He later worked for Hans van den Broek, European Commissioner for External Relations, and Max van der Stoel, High Commissioner on National Minorities for the OSCE. In 1998, Frans Timmermans was elected member of the House of Representatives for the Dutch Labour Party dealing principally with foreign affairs. From 2007 2010, Mr Timmermans was Minister for European Affairs. In 2010, he became the Labour Party’s spokesperson on foreign policy and in 2012 the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2014, he became First Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for better regulation, interinstitutional relations, sustainable development, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
