NAME: Paleckis, Justas Vincas.

LITHUANIA

POLITICAL GROUP: Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D).

PARTY: Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija.

CONSTITUENCY: Lithuania

DATE OF LATEST ELECTION: 2009

Committees: Member of Delegation for Relations with Belarus since 2008; Vice-Chairman of Sub-Committee on Security and Defence since 2007; Substitute of Temporary Committee on Climate Change since 2007; Member of Committee on Foreign Affairs since 2004; Member of Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Co-operation Committee since 2004; Substitute of Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety since 2004.

Political Career: Member of the European Parliament since 2004; Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Lithuania 2002-2004; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to the UK 1996-2001; Adviser to the President of Lithuania on Foreign Policy 1993-1996; Member of Lithuanian Parliament 1990-1992.

Profession: Journalist, diplomat, politician.

Titles/honours/decorations: Signatory of the Lithuanian Declaration of the Restoration of Independence 1990; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 1993; Knight of the Royal Swedish Order of the Northern Star 1994; Owner of the Lithuania Independence Medal 2000; Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Lithuania 2003.

Education: Vilnius University, School of Journalism, Degree in Journalism 1959-1964; Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry of the USSR 1966-1969.

Languages: Lithuanian, Russia, German, English and Polish.

Author of: Life in a Triangle: Vilnius-Brussels-Strasbourg. (2007); In the Foot of the Swiss Pyramids. (1985); The Swiss Pyramids. (1974).

Hobbies: Books, newspaper reading, theatre, gardening, tennis and swimming.

Born: 1 January 1942, Samara, Russia.