Curriculum

He took a doctor's degree in Biology at Santiago University and a degree in Economical Sciences at South Africa University. His professional activity was always linked to fishing matters. From 1972 to 1978, he carried out some research works on Oceanography, Ecology and Marine Biology at the Institute of Fishing Investigations in Vigo. In 1978, he became technical secretary of the Cooperative of Fishing in Vigo and managing director in 1982. In August 1987, he started to work at the General Fishing Office of the European Union, General Fishing Offices of the EC, as well as at the office of Markets and External Resources. He was also the head of Fishing structures. In 1990, he left Europe to take charge of the 'Consellería de Pesca' (Xunta de Galicia) for three years. Then, he went back to the European Union as head of the Service of Competition Policy. In 1997, he was nominated as head of the cabinet of the president of the European Parliament, José María Gil-Robles, but he returned to the 'Consellería de Pesca' in September 2001 until 2005. He started his political activity in 1978 as a member of the Galician party. From 1998 to 2001, he was the president of the Spanish 'PP' in Belgium.