Poul Nielson

Danish politician

Poul Nielson

European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid
In office
16 September 1999 – 21 November 2004
President| Romano Prodi
Preceded by| João de Deus Pinheiro
Succeeded by| Louis Michel
Minister of Development Cooperation
In office
27 September 1994 – 10 July 1999
Preceded by| Helle Degn
Succeeded by| Jan Trøjborg
Personal details
Born|  (1943-04-11) 11 April 1943 (age 80)
Copenhagen, Denmark
Political party| Social Democrats
Education| Aarhus University

Poul Nielson (born 11 April 1943) is a Danish politician from the Social Democrats who has held the posts as Energy Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, and served as European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid from 1999 until 2004.

## Early life and education[edit]

Born in Copenhagen, Nielson graduated in political science from Aarhus University in 1972.[1]

## Political career[edit]

During his long career in Danish politics, Nielson served as Energy Minister in the fourth and fifth cabinets of Prime Minister Anker Jørgensen from 26 October 1979 to 10 September 1982, and as Minister for Development Cooperation in the Cabinet of Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II, III, and IV from 27 September 1994 to 10 July 1999. By the time he left office, he was the EU's longest-serving development minister.[2] In 1999, he was also the EU's official candidate for leading the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the post instead went to Mark Malloch Brown.[3][4]

On 17 September 1999 Nielson became European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid when the Prodi Commission took office.[5] Early in his tenure, the EU signed the Cotonou Agreement with its 71 partners from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) which put relations between Europe and its former colonies on a new footing for the following 20 years.[6]

In 2002, Nielson and Margot Wallström led the European Commission's team at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.[7] In response to what later became known as the 'decency gap' left by US President George W. Bush's controversial refusal to release funds already approved by Congress, Nielson also led efforts for the EU to pledge additional support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2004.[8]

## Life after politics[edit]

In April 2015, Nielson was asked to conduct a strategic review of the labour market on behalf of the Nordic Council.[9][10]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Man with a mission European Voice, 19 April 2000.
2. ^ Poul Nielson European Voice, 1 September 1999.
3. ^ Thalif Deen (15 April 1999), Third World Wants Say in Selecting UNDP Boss Inter Press Service (IPS).
4. ^ Man with a mission European Voice, 19 April 2000.
5. ^ Geoff Winestock (9 July 1999), Prodi to Name New Team For European Commission Wall Street Journal.
6. ^ Man with a mission European Voice, 19 April 2000.
7. ^ Martin Banks (18 September 2002), Cox attacks Nielson's summit ‘antics’ European Voice.
8. ^ Karen Carstens (28 April 2004), Abandoned UN population policies to get cash boost European Voice.
9. ^ "Top politician to review Nordic labour market". Norden.org. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
10. ^ lars. "Former EU Commissioner Poul Nielson: The Nordic region plays a role – Nordic Labour Journal". Nordiclabourjournal.org. Retrieved 31 December 2017.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poul Nielson.

* CV (in Danish) – From Folketinget.

Political offices

Preceded by

New office

|  Energy Minister
26 October 1979 – 10 September 1982  | Succeeded by

Knud Enggaard

Preceded by

Helle Degn

|  Minister for Development Cooperation
27 September 1994 – 10 July 1999  | Succeeded by

Jan Trøjborg

Preceded by

New office

|  European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid
17 September 1999 – 22 November 2004
(together with Joe Borg from 1 May 2004)  | Succeeded by

Louis Michel

Preceded by

Ritt Bjerregaard

|  Danish European Commissioner
17 September 1999 – 22 November 2004  | Succeeded by

Mariann Fischer Boel

* v
* t
* e

European Commissioners from Denmark

* Finn Olav Gundelach
* Poul Dalsager
* Henning Christophersen
* Ritt Bjerregaard
* Poul Nielson
* Mariann Fischer Boel
* Connie Hedegaard
* Margrethe Vestager

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