Speakers

PhD in Sociology. Lecturer, expert, politician and social activist. Former mayor and president of one of the Polish regions, active in many European local and regional government organisations. Regional policy and urban development expert. Speaker at international conferences on urban related issues. Member of the European Parliament since 2004, Vice-Chairman of its Committee on Regional Development in the years 2004-2009, Vice-Chairman of its Special Committee on Policy Challenges and Budgetary Resources for a Sustainable European Union after 2013 in the years 2010-2011. Vice-president of the European Peoples Party Group at the European Parliament responsible for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the years 2011-2014. During the last parliamentary term president of the European Parliament's URBAN Intergroup.

Currently Member of the Parliamentary Committees on Budgets (standing rapporteur on the Multiannual Financial Framework) and substitute member of the Regional Development Committee. Co-chair of the European People’s Party working group on intercultural and religious dialogue.