President of the European Free Alliance

At the General Assembly in Venice, 2010, Prof. Dr. Eric Defoort was elected the new President of EFA. You can read the speech explaining his vision for the party here

The past two years (2007-2009), he was the president of the Flemish Popular Movement (VVB), a non-party linked movement advocating Flemish autonomy. This experience taught him how to deal with a movement in which different ideas are present.

As a historian he studied in depth the history of nationalism and published on topics like identity. These academic insights will be put at the service of EFA and its members.

Eric Defoort is a member of the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA), a party that became a full member of EFA in 2010. They supported his candidacy for president of EFA.

As president, he will see to the organisation and strategy of the European Free Alliance.

• Vice-President of the European Free Alliance
• Regional Deputy in Auvergne
• University Professor private law
• President of "Partit Occitan", since 1987
• President of "Régions & Peuples Solidaires", since 1995

Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC).
Born in Caldes de Montbui, Catalunya.

• ERC’s Deputy Secretary General for Institutional and International Relations since 2011
• Mayor of Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, since 2007
• MEP’s parliamentary advisor from 2002 to 2007
• Degree in Political Science (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and Master in European Studies (Europa Universität Viadrina, Frankfurt Oder, Germany)

Fabrizio Comencini
nato a Garda (Vr)
il 06 nov.1953

Studi:
Scuola dell’obbligo
Maturità conseguita all’ITIS Galileo Ferraris di Verona;
Studi Universitari di Ingegneria, Università di Modena e Politecnico di Milano;
Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia Università di Trento Laurea in Scienze Storiche: storia moderna.
Corso, di Giornalismo all’Università Cattolica Brescia.
Sociologia dei processi culturali e comunicativi, Università di Trento.

Professione attuale:
Consigliere Politico Ministero dei Rapporti con il Parlamento e delle Riforme Istituzionali, Roma.

Precedenti esperienze lavorative:
Libero professionista;
Tecnico e consulente;
Direttore Generale Comune di San Bonifacio (VR);

Esperienze professionali complementari:
Giornalista, iscritto nell’albo dei Giornalisti del Veneto

Incarichi politici:
Fondatore della LIGA VENETA REPUBBLICA, poi Veneti d’Europa — Liga Fronte Vneto:
primo Segretario.
Attuale Segretario Generale della Liga Fronte Veneto- Veneti d’Europa.

Incarichi politici istituzionali:
-Consigliere presso l’assemblea ex USL 25 di Verona;
Parlamento Veneto:
-Consigliere Regionale del Veneto IV legislatura; vicepresidente della VI commissione ( cultura, istruzione assistenza scolastica ecc.)- Componente della Commissione Biblioteca.
-Consigliere Regionale del Veneto V legislatura; vicepresidente della VI commissione, dal 1993 componente la I commissione consiliare, -Componente della Commissione Statuto e Regolamento, Componente della Giunta delle Elezioni.
-Vicepresidente del Consiglio dal 1993 al 1995,per gli ultimi due anni di legislatura.
-Consigliere Regionale del Veneto VI legislatura, Vicepresidente vicario, componente la I commissione consiliare.
-giugno 2006,
Consigliere Comunale di Garda Vr.

Residenza: Via Belvedere 37, 37010 Costermano (VR)

Member of the National Council of the BNG and responsible for the Migration Comision. Spokeswoman of the BNG in the European Parliament in the frame of the Galeuscat coalition. Lawyer, expert in European and International Law for the Catholic University of Leuven, she obtained study grants from the German Council of Ministries and the Leonardo program. Assistant to the BNG MEP Camilo Nogueira in the European Parliament 1999-2004.

Author of various articles referring to the Galician diaspora and European and International Law. She has participated in both the Sao Paulo Forum and the World Social Froum of Portoalegre, and she has constant contact with Galician Centres all around the world as well as political parties and governments in Latin America.

Ian Hudghton was first elected to the European Parliament in 1998, where he sat with Winnie Ewing until she was elected to the Scottish Parliament. He then became one of the four Scottish members of the Committee of the Regions.

In the European Elections of 1999 he was leading the list of the SNP, and got elected together with professor Neil MacCormick. In 2004 and 2009 he once again took the lead of the SNP-list and got elected to the European Parliament.

Mr. Hudghton was elected vice-president of the EFA-group in July 2009. He is also the president of the Scottish National Party since September 2005, being re-elected every year since that.

He has several different areas of attention in the EFA Bureau (Internal Enlargement - Relation with Council / Regional Development / Fisheries / Canada / Internal Market and Consumer Protection / Croatia).

Lorena López de Lacalle Arizti was born in Gasteiz (Basque Country) in 1959. She did her primary studies in The French School “Nazareth” and her secondary studies in the Federico Baraibar High School. She graduated in The University of Geneva as Translator and Conference Interpreter. For 25 years she lived in Ireland, Switzerland, France and Belgium with long stays in Italy and Portugal as well. She worked as conference interpreter in the ITU, International Telecommunications Union, The International Red Cross, The Council of Europe, The European Youth Center, The European Parliament, The European Commission, The European Council, the NATO, The European Trade Union Confederation, The Presidency of the Spanish Government, The Spanish Congress, The Presidency of the Basque Government and The Basque Parliament. She speaks Spanish, French, English, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan and Basque.

Combines her work as professional Interpreter with teaching Translation and Interpreting in the Universities of Geneva, Strasbourg and the University of the Basque Country.

As official of the European Parliament for 9 years she works 2 years at the Interpretation Unit Directorate in programming and contracts.

She has worked for several NGO’s in different countries: Migrant workers Office in the “Cornavin” Railway Station in Geneva, Food Bank in Strasbourg and ASMAE, Friends of Soeur Emmanuelle in Brussels.

In February 2005 she joins the Basque political party “Eusko Alkartasuna”.

In August 2007 and until December 2010 she becomes member of the Regional Government of Araba as head of the Regional Ministry of Culture, the Basque Language and Sports. In 2009 she creates the Salinas de Añana Foundation for the recovery of the Inland Saline Reservoir of Añana, a project which encompasses archeology, environment, architecture, culture and economics. She is also President of the Santa Maria’s Cathedral Foundation, member of the Executive Committee of the Contemporary Art Museum “Artium” and promotes with different local artists the “Amarika Project” for young artists and the most contemporary tendencies.

Careful listening, direct democracy and leadership are the pillars of her political work.

In July 2011 she becomes member of the regional Parliament of Araba as member of the Bildu Coalition.

Member of the National Executive of Eusko Alkartasuna since may 2010, as International Relations Secretary.

Vice President of EFA since 2011.

Vice President of the Alkartasuna Foundation and of Eurobask (Basque Council of the European Movement) since February 2012.

Photography, hiking, cycling, reading, music, travelling and good moments with her family and friends are some of her hobbies.

Was born on the 11th April 1953 in Wrexham, Wales. He has been the Plaid Cymru National Assembly for Wales Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 1999. He is a former Chair of Campaign for Nuclear Disarment Cymru and Welsh spokesperson for the Forum of Private Business.

EDUCATION
● Master´s Degree, The Built Environment; track Environmental Planning Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm Sweden (2012-2013)
● Bachelor´s Degree, Development and International cooperation Environmental science, renewable energy technology University College of Sodertorn, Stockholm, Sweden (2007-2010)
● Environmental science, photovoltaics, anthropology Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu Oáhu, Hawaii (2008)
● Human Ecology and Development in South America Skarpnack Folk School, Stockholm, Sweden (2005-2006)

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE
● Commissions of trust
o Full member of board, Energy of Mariehamn 2012-2015
o Alternate member, City Development Board of Mariehamn 2012-2015
o Member of board, Ålands Framtid Independence Party
● Scholarships
o Friends of Swedish Primary School ”For excellent studies abroad”, Spring 2008
o Lions Club Mariehamn ”For research regarding opportunities on renewable energy sources on Åland”, Fall 2007
● Voluntary experience
o Malama Na Honu Foundation, Oáhu Hawaii 2009 Protection of endangered sea turtles, tourist guide
o Rio Muchacho Organic Farm, Amazonas Ecuador 2006 Agriculture farming, plantation, harvest, feeding of cattle, cooking, handicraft

WORK EXPERIENCE
● Assistant / extra resource, Hennes & Mauritz, Stockholm Sweden September 2009- continuously
● Personal assistant, Trollslandan Daycare and Sviby Daycare, Jomala Åland Oct-2011- Feb 2012, 2004-2005
● Chronicler, Nya Åland local newspaper, 2008- 2009
● Assistant, Agenda 21, local office of Mariehamn, summer of 2007
● Host, Kastelholm Castle, Government of Åland Islands Summer of 2006, 2004, 2003

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
● Bachelor´s Essay: University College of Sodertorn, Stockholm Sweden Title: “Energy, Gender and Poverty – How can solar power meet women’s electricity needs in poor rural areas in developing countries”?
● B- Essay; University College of Sodertorn, Stockholm Sweden Title: ”Carbon Dioxide emissions on Åland Islands – and how to reduce them”

LANGUAGES
● Swedish – First language
● English– Fluently
● Spanish – Good knowledge
● French – Basic

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE
● Programmes
o GIS – Geographic Information System
o R – Environmental Statistics Program
o Gantt – Project Management Program
o Microsoft Office
● Operative system
o Windows
o Mac OS

OTHER
● STCW; Sea Safety and Fire Practice, IYT, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 2012
● Krav Maga, Israeli Self-Defense 1 year, Stockholm Krav Maga Center 2009-2010

Florian Weber was born on the 10th of November 1963 in Bad Aibling, Germany. On the Bayernpartei party congress in 2007 he was elected unanimously for the position of the party president. He will lead the party list in the 2014 European Parliament election.