Bernd Lange (b. November 14, 1955 in Oldenburg) is a German politician for the Social Democratic Party of Germany.He was a member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2004. Since July 2009 he is again a member of the European Parliament within the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament.
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Lange grew up in Varel. He studied Protestant theology and political sciences at the University of Göttingen, where he earned a degree in theology as well as a High School teacher certificate. From 1983 to 1994 he worked at the High School (Gymnasium) in Burgdorf. Between 2004 and 2009 Bernd Lange worked as the head of the "Economy, Environment and Europe"-department at the German Trade Union Federation, the DGB in Lower Saxony. He is married, and has one daughter.
When Bernd Lange entered the European Parliament in 1994, he was a member of the Environment Committee and a substitute member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. During this time, he was significantly involved in the introduction of the European Emission Control legislation. Since his reelection in 2009, he is a member of the Committee on International Trade and a substitute member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. He is also member of the Interparliamentary Delegation for relations with South Africa. From 2000 to 2004 he was one of the Co-Chairmen of the "Forum for the Automobile and Society" - a role that he resumed in 2009. Bernd Lange was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since June 15, 2010, he is the European Parliament's rapporteur for European industrial policy.[1]