Margrietus Johannes "Max" van den Berg (;
[Every word in isolation: ] born 22 March 1946) is a Dutch
politician and member of the
Dutch Labour Party. From 1979 to 1986 he was the chairman of that party and from 1999 to 2007 he was a
Member of the European Parliament. From 2007 to 2016, he was the
King's Commissioner in
Groningen
Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...
, until 2013 as Queen's Commissioner.
Early life
Margrietus Johannes van den Berg was born on 22 March 1946 in
Ammerstol in the
Netherlands.
[Drs. M.J. van den Berg]
''Parlement & Politiek''. Retrieved on 16 November 2007.
His high school was the ''Carmelieten Paters'' in
Oldenzaal. In 1969 he received his degree in
sociology in
Groningen
Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...
, where he specialized in urban planning and political science. From 1969 to 1970 he was an academic staff member and lecturer at the sociology faculty of the
University of Groningen.
Political career
From 1 September 1970 to 5 September 1978, Max van den Berg was an
alderman in
Groningen
Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...
; the last six years of which he was also the
deputy mayor
The deputy mayor (also known as vice mayor, assistant mayor, or mayor ''pro tem'') is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official that is present in many, but not all, local governments.
Duties and functions
Many elected dep ...
of Groningen.
From 26 April 1979 to 25 April 1986, he was the chairman of the
Labour Party.
From 1986 to 1999 he was the secretary-general of the
non-governmental organisation Novib
Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam International.
History
Founded at 17 Broad Street, Oxford, as the Oxford Co ...
.
From 20 July 1999 to 1 September 2007, he was a
Member of the European Parliament.
He was the leader of the PvdA delegation in the European Parliament, and from 1999 to 2004 he was also vice-chairman of the Committee on Development and Cooperation. He is also a substitute for the
Committee on International Trade and the
Subcommittee on Human Rights The Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) is a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament. It is responsible for issues of human rights and democracy, including ensuring their implementation in European Union policy, ...
, vice-chair of the delegation for relations with the countries of the
Andean Community, a substitute for the delegation to the
ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and a member of the temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013.
Organisations
Max van den Berg is or was a member of several organisations:
* Member of Eurostep (1990–1999)
* Member of Oxfam International (1995–1999)
* Member of the board of governors of the
African Studies Centre
The African Studies Centre (Afrika-Studiecentrum) is a scientific institute in the Netherlands that undertakes social-science research on Africa with the aim of promoting a better understanding of historical, current and future social developments ...
, Leiden
* Member of the management board of the Jan Vrijman Foundation
* Chairman of the management board, Theater Zeebelt, The Hague
* Member of the management board of Wereldomroep (Radio Netherlands International), Zeist
* Member of the management board of the Design Academy, Eindhoven
Honours
* Officer in the
Order of Orange-Nassau (2016)
[Koninklijke onderscheiding voor ereburger Max van den Berg]
, '' NU.nl'', 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
* Honorary citizen of
Groningen
Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...
(2016)
References
External links
*
Max van den Berg(official website)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Max Van Den
1946 births
Living people
Aldermen of Groningen
Chairmen of the Labour Party (Netherlands)
Dutch civil servants
King's and Queen's Commissioners of Groningen
Labour Party (Netherlands) MEPs
Labour Party (Netherlands) politicians
MEPs for the Netherlands 1999–2004
MEPs for the Netherlands 2004–2009
Municipal councillors of Groningen (city)
Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau
People from Bergambacht