Brussels, 30/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - It won't be the German Social Democrats who will be bringing much new blood to the European Parliament. With barely three newcomers to the first thirty places, the SPD has quite clearly given priority to the outgoing MEPs. Martin Schulz, is heading the list and is known for his hard headedness in certain cases, such as those on immigration and asylum, as well as his altercation with Silvio Berlusconi, the July plenary in 2004.
The first 35 SPD candidates for the European elections in June 2004 are as follows: - Martin Schulz, librarian, born in 1955 and member of the SPD since 1994; - Mechtild Rothe, teacher and member of the EP since 1984; - Ralf Walter, social worker, born 1958; - Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, legal expert, aged 50, at EP since 1989, chaired enquiry commission into BSE; - H Bullmann, political scientist, born 1956; - Konstanze Krehl, systems analyst; - Wolfgang Kreissl-Dorfler, farmer; - Erika Mann, 53; - Bernhard Rapkay, 53; - in tenth place and first newcomer on list: businessman of Turkish origin working in the travel sector, who is well-known in Germany: Vural Öger; born 1942 arrived in Germany aged 18, made a fortune and is now active campaigner for Turkey's accession to the EU; - European federalist Jo Leinen (56 ) in eleventh position; - Evelyne Gebhardt, translator, 50 ; - Willi Piecyk, police officer, 55; - Jutta Haug, 53 ; - former president of the EP and one of the current representatives at IGC, Klaus Hänsch (65 ) at European Parliament since 1979; - Garrelt Duin, lawyer, born 1968; - Barbara Weiler, 57; - Heinz Kindermann, veterinary, born 1942;- Karin Jöns, journalist (51 ), particularly active in public health and fight against cancer; - Norbert Glante, engineer, born 1952; - Ulrich Stockmann, engineer, born 1951; - Lissy Groener, secretary (50 ), particularly active in women's rights; - Helmut Kuhne, 54 ; - Rosemarie Müller (55 ) one of the two rapporteurs on reform of European pharmaceutical legislation in this legislature; - Bernd Lange, teacher, 49 ; - in 26th place, Gehrard Botz (49 ) who served as an MEP between 1991-1999; - in 27th place, another newcomer: Brigitte Wucherpfennig; - Ozan Ceyhun (44) elected for first time in 1999 on the Greens list was and then joined the Socialist EP group and is now in 28th place; - Gabi Rolland (39 ) another newcomer; - Wilfried Kuckelkorn, installation engineer (60 ) is the final outgoing MEP on list; - Michael Zirpel (38 ), assistant parliamentarian at the EP; - Kertsin Westphal (41 ), local councillor; - Peter Simon (37 ), director of Europaburo in Mannheim; - Birgit Sippel (44 ), assistant parliamentarian at EP; - Jens Geier (43 ), assistant parliamentarian at EP in 35th place.