Knowledge Based Bio-Economy towards 2020

Mr. FISCHLER FRANZ

Former European Commissioner

Biography

 Franz Fischler was born in Absam, Tyrol, Austria on September 23, 1946. He is married and has four children. At the age of 14, while attending secondary school at the Franziskaner Gymnasium in Hall (Tyrol), he had to run his grandparents' small farm. After leaving school, he chose to study agriculture at the University of Soil Science in Vienna, did some practical work on a mixed holding in Austria (horticulture/pig breeding), and twomonth traineeship on a dairy farm in Nyköping, Sweden, and graduated in 1973. After that he held various academic positions up to 1979, and got his Doctorate (Dr Rer.nat.oec.) in November 1978.

Franz Fischler's career as a representative of the agriculture sector began in 1979 when he joined the Tyrol Chamber of Agriculture. He dealt with environmental issues, education and training, culture and land-use planning until 1984, when he became Director of the Chamber. In 1989, by which time he had four children, he was appointed Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. In that capacity he played an important part in the negotiations for Austria's accession to the European Union. In 1990 and again in 1994, he was elected to the Austrian Parliament but did not exercise his mandate as an MP because of his ministerial post.

From 1995 to 1999 he was European Commissioner for agriculture and rural development. When the new Commission was appointed in September 1999, he also acquired responsibility for Community fisheries policy (until 2004). Since the end of 2004, Franz Fischler has been mainly involved with consultancy work, university teaching, educational courses and is also president of the Eco-Social Forum Europe.

Professional career:

·          1973-1979: University assistant in the Department of Regional Agricultural Planning at the Institute for Farm Management in Vienna

·          1979-1984: Management assistant in the Tyrol Chamber of Agriculture, responsible for culture and education, land use planning, environmental protection and various other matters

·          1985-1989: Director of the Chamber of Agriculture

·          1989-1994: Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry

·          1990 and 1994: elected Member of the Austrian National Parliament (National rat)

·          1995-1999: Member of the Commission responsible for agriculture and rural development

·          1999-2004: Member of the Commission responsible for agriculture, rural development and fisheries

·          From 2005: Franz Fischler Consult GmbH