European Commissioner for Enterprise & Industry (2004-2010).
Member of West German Bundestag (1983-1999).
Secretary General of FDP (1978-1982).
German and European Union politician. Switched from Free Democratic Party (FDP) to Social Democratic Party (SPD) in 1982, when the FDP defected into a coalition with CDUD/CSUiB.
European Commissioner for Enlargement (1999-2004).