Born in 1947. Wuerttemberg-Hohenzollern (Baden-Wuerttemberg). Master in urban and rural home economics; instructor since 1984, District Vice-Chairman of the Biberach CDU. Since 1993, Regional Vice-Chairman of the Württemberg-Hohenzollern CDU. 1994-2004, member of the German Federal Committee of Agriculture. Since 1999, member of the Biberach District Council. Since June 2006, Chairman of the Regional Committee on Agriculture and, since February 2007, Vice-Chairman of the 'Land' Committee on Agriculture.Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rottenburg-Stuttgart Catholic Independent Schools Foundation. Chairman of the 'Friends of Stafflangen SV Association and the Stafflangen Horticultural Association.Vice-Chairman of the CDU/CSU Group in the European Parliament. President of the Foundation 'Unita dei Cristiani' - Christian Unity.MEP since 1999.