• Graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (1964) and ENA (National School of Administration) (1968) • Auditor, Commissioner of Audit, then Senior Member of the Court of Auditors (1968–1973, 1976–1977, 1981–1986, 1997–1999) • Special adviser in the office of the Minister for Cultural Affairs (1973–1974) • Technical adviser in the offices of the Minister for Finance (1974–1976), the Minister for Infrastructure (1977–1978) and the President of the Republic (1978–1981) • Economic and social adviser (1985–1986) • Delegate, 'Perspectives et Réalités' clubs (1985–1989) •
UDF spokesman (1988) • Vice-president of the
UDF (1999–2002) • National Secretary of the
UMP (since July 2003) • First Deputy Mayor of
Anglet (1995–1999) • Mayor of
Anglet (1999–2000) • Member of the Anglet Municipal Council (since 2000) • Chairman of the Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz Urban Area Community Council (1995–2001) • Vice-chairman of the Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz Urban Area Community Council (since 2001) • Chairman of the Council of Elected Representatives of the
Basque Country • Member of the
National Assembly (1986–1993) • Minister with special responsibility for European Affairs (1993–1995) • Minister with special responsibility for the
budget and government spokesman (1995–1997) • Member of the
European Parliament (1989–1993 and since 1999) • Chairman of the Committee on Budgetary Control (1992–1993) • Representative of the
European Parliament at the
European Convention (2002–2003) • Vice-president of the European Movement – France (since 1999) • Chairman of the Committee on Budgets (2009–2014) •
Knight of the
Legion of Honour ==References==