Kathalijne Buitenweg
Encyclopedia
Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg (born 27 March 1970 in Rotterdam
) is a Dutch politician
. Between 1999 and 2009, she was a Member of the European Parliament
for the Green Left
, which is part of the European Greens, and sat on the European Parliament
's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
in 1989, Buitenweg studied History
at the University of Amsterdam, where she specialised in European Studies
and American Studies
, graduating in 1994. In 1991 she became a member of the executive of the European Coordination Bureau of International Youth Organisations, and was elected Vice-Chairperson in 1993, which she remained until 1995. She also was a trainee at the European Commission
from 1994 to 1995, and a member of the steering committee of European Youth Campaign against racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance, of the Council of Europe
.
In 1995 Buitenweg became policy adviser for the European Delegation of the Green Left. In 1998 she moved to The Hague
where she was policy advisor to the GreenLeft parliamentary party in the House of Representatives until 1999.
In 1999 Buitenweg was elected to the European Parliament. From 1999 to 2004 she was a member of the budget committee and the committee on Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and a delegate for relations with South Africa. In a controversial Lijsttrekker
election in 2004 she became the European Leader of the Green Left. In that election she defeated her friend and colleague Joost Lagendijk, who led the GreenLeft in the -very successful- 1999 campaign. Lagendijk however was the only proposed candidate. In reaction to the motion "we want to choose" which was carried by the GreenLeft party Congress Buitenweg decided to become candidate in the last minutes before the election. The rebellious congress finally had something to choose and voted for Buitenweg.
Currently she is a member of the committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, between 2004 and 2007 she was a substitute for the Committee on Budgets, a substitute for the temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013, a member of the delegation for relations with the United States
, and a substitute for the delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
. In 2007 she joined the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
as a substitute
In the second to 2006 elections
Buitenweg is last candidate
on list of the GreenLeft
, a symbolic position. In 2008 she announced that she would not seek a third term in the European Parliament.
In the European Parliament, Buitenweg has specialised in anti-discrimination, drug policy
and civil freedoms.
In 2008 she announced that she would not seek a third in the European Parliament. On March 7 2009 the GreenLeft party congress
put her on the final place of the party list, as lijstduwer
. She was succeeded as leader
of the GreenLeft in the European Parliament by Judith Sargentini
.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
) is a Dutch politician
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
. Between 1999 and 2009, she was a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the Green Left
Green left
The term Green left is used primarily to refer to a combination of environmentalism, feminism, socialism, and pacifism in countries where the term is used...
, which is part of the European Greens, and sat on the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
Before politics
From 1985 to 1986 she was a member of the board of the youth organisation of the environmental organisation NIVON (Dutch Institute for People's Education and Nature Friends). After completing her VWOSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in 1989, Buitenweg studied History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of Amsterdam, where she specialised in European Studies
European studies
European studies is a field of study offered by many academic colleges and universities that focuses on current developments in European integration....
and American Studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
, graduating in 1994. In 1991 she became a member of the executive of the European Coordination Bureau of International Youth Organisations, and was elected Vice-Chairperson in 1993, which she remained until 1995. She also was a trainee at the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
from 1994 to 1995, and a member of the steering committee of European Youth Campaign against racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance, of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
.
In 1995 Buitenweg became policy adviser for the European Delegation of the Green Left. In 1998 she moved to The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
where she was policy advisor to the GreenLeft parliamentary party in the House of Representatives until 1999.
Political career
Lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of...
election in 2004 she became the European Leader of the Green Left. In that election she defeated her friend and colleague Joost Lagendijk, who led the GreenLeft in the -very successful- 1999 campaign. Lagendijk however was the only proposed candidate. In reaction to the motion "we want to choose" which was carried by the GreenLeft party Congress Buitenweg decided to become candidate in the last minutes before the election. The rebellious congress finally had something to choose and voted for Buitenweg.
Currently she is a member of the committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, between 2004 and 2007 she was a substitute for the Committee on Budgets, a substitute for the temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007–2013, a member of the delegation for relations with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a substitute for the delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. In 2007 she joined the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is a committee of the European Parliament. It has 68 members and a secretariat of 10 administrators. Its chairman is...
as a substitute
In the second to 2006 elections
Dutch general election, 2006
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
Buitenweg is last candidate
Lijstduwer
Lijstduwer is a Dutch term for the last candidate on a party list.In Suriname, the Netherlands and Belgium, this position is often taken by well-known non-politicians such as artists and sportspeople. They are officially a candidate, but they are put at the end of the party list in a bid to...
on list of the GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
, a symbolic position. In 2008 she announced that she would not seek a third term in the European Parliament.
In the European Parliament, Buitenweg has specialised in anti-discrimination, drug policy
Drug policy of the Netherlands
The drug policy of the Netherlands officially has four major objectives:# To prevent recreational drug use and to treat and rehabilitate recreational drug users.# To reduce harm to users....
and civil freedoms.
In 2008 she announced that she would not seek a third in the European Parliament. On March 7 2009 the GreenLeft party congress
Party Congress
A party congress is a general conference of a political party. The congress is attended by delegates who represent the party membership. In most parties the party congress is the highest decision making body of the organisation and elects the party's leadership bodies such as the National Executive...
put her on the final place of the party list, as lijstduwer
Lijstduwer
Lijstduwer is a Dutch term for the last candidate on a party list.In Suriname, the Netherlands and Belgium, this position is often taken by well-known non-politicians such as artists and sportspeople. They are officially a candidate, but they are put at the end of the party list in a bid to...
. She was succeeded as leader
Lijsttrekker
Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of...
of the GreenLeft in the European Parliament by Judith Sargentini
Judith Sargentini
Judith Sargentini is a Dutch GreenLeft politician. She is currently a Member of the European Parliament where she leads the GreenLeft delegation. Previously she was chair of the GreenLeft in the Amsterdam city council....
.