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Heinz K. Becker (born 29. of July 1950 in Baden, Lower Austria) is an Austrian politician and since 2011 a Member of the European Parliament.

Education and professional career
Heinz K. Becker attended grammar school in Vienna and graduated in 1970, after having completed military service. His professional start in the export/import-business for a Japanese trading company made him move to Berlin for 2 years and work in Central Eastern Europe until 1974. After that he set out on a lengthy and varied career in the area of marketing and advertisement, working for different Vienna based advertising agencies as well as within the marketing section of international corporations such as Philips. Having gathered more than 20 years of experience in the field as well as acquired the International Marketing Degree I+II in a two-year college programme, Mr Becker opened up his own business in 1992 by launching a full service advertising agency which he led as managing director until 2002. In 2011 he handed over full leadership of his company to his spouse - a decision which aimed at giving him time and space for his increasing commitment in politics and the public sphere.

Political career


Since 2001 Mr Becker holds the position of a Secretary-General of the Austrian Association for Senior Citizens, the largest organisation within the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) that represents the interests of the elderly on a both federal and regional level. By joining the board of the Political Academy, a research and political education institution, he entered the high ranks of another ÖVP-affiliated body in the very same year. After having taught marketing related classes in different Austrian universities and colleges Mr Becker further enhanced his portfolio on social policy by becoming a full member of the executive of the Main Association of Austrian Social Insurance Institutions in 2009.

In 2011, Heinz K. Becker took up a mandate as Member of the European Parliament, herein being affiliated with both, the Austrian and the European Peoples' Party. By means of his membership in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs as well as his deputy membership in the Committee on Culture and Education, Mr Becker is pursuing his long-standing political commitments to elderly people and intergenerational solidarity also in his new role. It is at the forefront of European decision making that he now stands up for forward-looking developments such as an active engagement of senior citizens and young people in society or a better understanding of the necessity of Lifelong Learning in an increasingly volatile economic environment. In this context the 2012 - European Year of Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity marked a central point of reference in Mr Becker's endeavour after more sustainable solutions in a swiftly ageing society.As MEP, Mr Becker is also a member of the Committee on Petitions and the Inter-Parliamentarian Delegation for the relations with Canada.

In 2013 Mr Becker has been elected as the Vice-chair of the European Senior Citizens' Union. Thus, for the next five years, Heinz Becker will be in the management team of the ESU, a part of the European People's Party(EPP).

Political commitment

 * Since 2001	Austrian Senior Citizens' Association (ÖSB); Secretary-General
 * Since 2001 	ÖVP Political Academy; Member of the board
 * Since 2004 	Federation of Austrian Social Insurance Institutions; (since 2009 regular) member of the executive
 * Since 2013 	European Senior Citizens' Union (ESCU); Vice-chair

Personal life
Heinz K. Becker is married since 1974 and has two adult children.

Weblinks

 * Official homepage
 * European Parliament biography of Heinz Becker (incl. Speeches, Questions and Motions)
 * VoteWatch.eu: Heinz Becker
 * Photographic pictures: Heinz Becker

Category:Austrian Politician Category:Austrian People's Party Category:Austrian Category:1950 births Category:Member of the European Parliament