Sharon Bowles
Encyclopedia
Sharon Margaret Bowles is a Liberal Democrat politician and Member of the European Parliament
for the South East England
region of the United Kingdom
. As with all the other Liberal Democrat members in the parliament, she sits in the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
grouping.
Before joining the European Parliament Bowles worked as a European patent attorney
. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
(CIPA). She is the European Parliament's only registered patent attorney.
In the 1992
and 1997 general election
she was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Aylesbury
constituency. She has been a member of the bureau of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
since 2004.
She replaced Chris Huhne
in the European Parliament
after he was elected to the House of Commons
in the 2005 general election
. On 10 November 2007 she was selected as the first placed prospective candidate on the Liberal Democrat list for the 2009 election in her European constituency, and was re-elected to the European Parliament on 4 June 2009. She now serves alongside Catherine Bearder
as MEP for South East England.
(ECON), and became a substitute member of the Committee on Legal Affairs
. She was also a member of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the countries of South East Asia and ASEAN. In 2008 she was nominated to serve as the European Parliament's representative on the European Statistical Advisory Committee.
, and took up her seat on 14 July. Shortly thereafter Bowles was elected Chairwoman of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
, succeeding Pervenche Beres
.
She is married to Andrew Horton. They have two children, Remy and Damian.
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 South East England
South East England (European Parliament constituency)
South East England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 10 Members of the European Parliament using the D'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
region of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. As with all the other Liberal Democrat members in the parliament, she sits in the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
grouping.
Before joining the European Parliament Bowles worked as a European patent attorney
Patent attorney
A patent attorney is an attorney who has the specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice, such as filing an opposition...
. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys is the British professional body of patent attorneys. It was founded in 1882 as the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1891...
(CIPA). She is the European Parliament's only registered patent attorney.
In the 1992
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
and 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
she was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Aylesbury
Aylesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Aylesbury is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The Conservative Party has held the seat since 1924, and held it at the 2010 general election with a 52.2% share of the vote.-Boundaries:...
constituency. She has been a member of the bureau of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
since 2004.
She replaced Chris Huhne
Chris Huhne
Christopher Murray Paul-Huhne, generally known as Chris Huhne is a British politician and cabinet minister, who is the current Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire...
in 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...
after he was elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. On 10 November 2007 she was selected as the first placed prospective candidate on the Liberal Democrat list for the 2009 election in her European constituency, and was re-elected to the European Parliament on 4 June 2009. She now serves alongside Catherine Bearder
Catherine Bearder
Catherine Zena Bearder is a Liberal Democrat politician and MEP for South East England.She was the second placed Liberal Democrat candidate for the European Parliament in the South East region of England. Replacing Emma Nicholson MEP, she was placed behind Sharon Bowles MEP on the party list for...
as MEP for South East England.
First Term
Coming to the European Parliament a year into its 6th sitting, Bowles sat on the Committee on Economic and Monetary AffairsCommittee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs is a committee of the European Parliament.Since Economic and Monetary Union , the most important function of this Committee has been in relation to the European Central Bank . Although guaranteed independence under the Treaty, the ECB is accountable...
(ECON), and became a substitute member of the Committee on Legal Affairs
Committee on Legal Affairs
The Committee on Legal Affairs is a committee of the European Parliament.It is preparing many crucial decisions of the European Parliament. It met on 20 and 21 June 2005 and debated and voted on the Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions.-External links:*...
. She was also a member of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the countries of South East Asia and ASEAN. In 2008 she was nominated to serve as the European Parliament's representative on the European Statistical Advisory Committee.
Second Term
Bowles was re-elected in the European Parliament Election, 2009European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
, and took up her seat on 14 July. Shortly thereafter Bowles was elected Chairwoman of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs is a committee of the European Parliament.Since Economic and Monetary Union , the most important function of this Committee has been in relation to the European Central Bank . Although guaranteed independence under the Treaty, the ECB is accountable...
, succeeding Pervenche Beres
Pervenche Bérès
Pervenche Berès is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France. She is a member of the Socialist Party; part of the Party of European Socialists. On 28 July 2004 she was elected Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.-References:...
.
She is married to Andrew Horton. They have two children, Remy and Damian.