Roberts Zīle
Roberts Zīle | |
---|---|
Vice-President of the European Parliament | |
Assumed office 18 January 2022 Serving with See List | |
President | Roberta Metsola |
Member of the European Parliament for Latvia | |
Assumed office 20 July 2004 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Latvia University of Agriculture | 20 June 1958
Occupation | Economist |
Website | robertszile |
Roberts Zīle (born 20 June 1958) is a
Background
Zīle was born in
Early career
Zīle began his career in 1980 as editor of the publishing house "Avots". From 1982 until 1986 Zīle was a research fellow, later appointed to head of unit, at the Latvian State Institute of Agrarian Economics. From 1989 to 1993, Zīle was editor of the economics section of the
Political career in Latvia
Zīle began his political career in 1990, when he became member of the executive institution of the
In 1994, Zīle ran in the Riga City Council elections from the "For Fatherland and Freedom" party's list. After being a deputy in the Riga City Council, he became an assistant to Ilmārs Dāliņš, a member of the 5th Saeima (Parliament of Latvia). In 1995, Zīle was himself elected in the 6th Saeima from the "For Fatherland and Freedom" list. He worked there as a member of the European Affairs committee and the Budget and Finance committee. Later, Zīle became chairman of the Budget and Finance committee.
In February 1997, Zīle became
In 2002, Zīle was elected to the 8th Saeima from the TB/LNNK list. In November 2002, Zīle resigned from the Parliament, because he was confirmed as a Minister of Transport in the government of Einars Repše. Zīle held this position until March 2004.[9]
In July 2006, TB/LNNK nominated Zīle as a candidate for the position of Prime Minister. In December 2006, he was elected chairman of TB/LNNK. In July 2011, upon the creation of the new association of political parties National Alliance "All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK", Zīle became co-chairman of the association from the TB/LNNK side. In August 2011, he resigned his post as co-chairman, declaring that he wishes to focus his attention on the events in the European Parliament and believes that the leaders of the National Alliance should be based in Latvia.[10]
Political career in the European Parliament
For the sixth term of the European Parliament, Zīle ran in the 2004 European Parliament elections as representative of TB/LNNK. As a result, he was elected in June 2004 and became Member of the European Parliament (MEP). As MEP, Zīle joined the nationally conservative Union for Europe of the Nations political group, where he served as vice-president. Zīle worked in the Transport and Tourism committee, the Industry, Research and Energy committee, as well as in the Delegation for Relations with Australia.[11]
At the
The creation of the ECR brought TB/LNNK and Zīle into the political media spotlight in Britain. Left-wing British politicians including the
Academic activities
During his career, Zīle has represented Latvia in a variety of international scientific projects, including programmes developed by the
Political and social activities
Zīle began his political activities as a member of the
Zīle has been a member of the board of the "Foundation for the Development of Public Ideas -- Think!" ("Domā!") since 2012. The objective of the foundation is to offer and introduce new ideas for the political, economic and social life in Latvia and the EU, based on nationally conservative values.[19] Zile has managed or partly managed three of the conferences organized by the foundation - on the unemployment and quality of life of the Latvian youth in May 2012, on conservative values in the modern world in October 2012, and on drivers of energy sector in the Baltics.
Zīle has participated in numerous public guest lectures in universities in Latvia on topics related to the economy and politics of the European Union, as well as various conferences on macroeconomic and energy related issues in the European Parliament.
Prior to the 9th Saeima elections Zīle developed an extensive economic reform program (sometimes called Zīle's program), designed to prevent a looming real estate crisis and to create a socially equitable tax system in Latvia, which would be oriented towards productive investments.[20]
In the European Parliament, Zīle's current agenda is focused on issues related to the EU transport policy, especially the "Rail Baltica" railway project; overcoming the economic crisis; the economic governance of the EU and solving banking issues; energy, especially ensuring the energy independence of the Baltic countries from Russia.
In Latvian domestic affairs, Zīle has been continuing activities focused on ensuring the long term macroeconomic stability and overhaul of the tax system. His objective is to prevent the creation of a new banking and real estate bubble based on non-resident activities, as well as to decrease the tax burden on labour, especially low income households and families with children. He also advocates tax increase on capital gains and income from speculative activities with real estate, as well as calls for a state aid for the acquisition of residence for new families.
References
- guardian.co.uk. London. October 2, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
- ^ "ECR group". Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ "Roberts ZĪLE MEP". Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ "History". Finanšu Ministrija.
- ^ "Committees in the 7th Saeima". Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ "The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia 1998-1999". Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ "The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia 1999-2000". Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ "The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia 2000-2002". Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ "The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia 2002-2004". Archived from the original on 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ "Roberts Zile resigns as co-chairman of National Alliance". 2011-08-24. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
- ^ a b "Roberts Zile MEP, History of parliamentary service". Retrieved 2014-02-21.
- ^ David Miliband's speech showed rare passion – this was powerful stuff, The Guardian
- ^ William Hague demands an apology from Miliband after “disgraceful smears.” Archived 2009-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Zile, Roberts (October 2, 2009). "To call us Nazi sympathisers is absurd". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ "Roberts Zīle, CV from 2002, The European Convention" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
- ^ "Economists Association 2010, Objectives". Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "Economists Association 2010, Spidola award". Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "Economists Association 2010, Members". Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "ThinkFoundation, Who we are". Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
- ^ "TB/LNNK, Socio-economic program, in Latvian". Retrieved 2014-02-25.