John Fitzmaurice

John Fitzmaurice (- Copenhagen 18 November 1947 - Brussels, September 2003), is an author of numerous books and articles on politics, concentrating on party politics and elections. He was an official of the European Commission and a lecturer at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Education: Shaftesbury Grammar School; Bristol University; Certificate of Education at Oxford People CollegePolitical career: Contested Yeovil 1987; contested North Dorset 1992, 1997;Secretary, Brussels Labour Party; Vice-chair, Brussels Co-operative Party;Worked for the European Commission, Brussels.

Being a writer, politician and international civil servant, Mr Fitzmaurice was also a professor at the Institute of European Studies of the University of Brussels. His full time job was working as an administrator in the General Secretariat of the Commission of the European Communities in the Department for Liaison with the European Parliament.In his spare time, he travelled extensively, mainly to do research for his next publications.

Published books

*Party Groups in the European Parliament (1975, Ashgate);
*The European Parliament (1978, Dartmouth);
*The European Parliament (1979, Penguin special, with Robert Jackson);
*Politics in Denmark (1981, Hurst);
*Politics in Belgium (1983, Hurst);
*Québec and Canada : past, present and future (1985, Hurst);
*Security and Politics in the Nordic Area (1987, Avebury);
*Austrian Politics and Society Today (1991, Macmillan);
*The Baltic: A Regional Future? (1992, Macmillan);
*The Politics of Belgium, A Unique Federalism (1996, Westview Press);
*Damming the Danube: Gabcikovo and Post-Communist Politics in Europe (1996, Westview Press)
*Politics and Government in the Visegrad Countries (1998, Macmillan)

After he died unexpectedly, a commemoration service was held on November 12 2003 in the Brussels Van Maerlant Chapel. Among others, Neil Kinnock, UK Commissioner and Vice-President of the European Commission from 1995 until 2004, as well as Julian Priestley from the European Parliament, spoke during this service.

To create a lasting memory to John Fitzmaurice, an annual lecture around the themes of democracy, socialism and Europe, will be held in Brussels.

During the latest lecture, on 22 January 2007, the Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe, dedicated his speech (called "Labour and European values: a synergy at the heart of Europe") to Mr Fitzmaurice. Here is an extract from his speech. "I am grateful to be here with you tonight amongst so many old friends. Not least because Brussels is in may ways my second political home. But it is also a particular honour to give the (third) Brussels Labour Annual Lecture in memory of our colleague and friend, John Fitzmaurice. I knew John during my time in the European Parliament. He then went on to work for the Commission Secretariat General focusing on the relationship between the Commission and the Parliament until his sad death in 2003. John was passionate about European politics and in particular the European Parliament throughout his life and career. I hope that it is something that I have in common with him."