João de Deus Pinheiro


João de Deus Rogado Salvador Pinheiro, GCC GCIH, is a Portuguese politician and former Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democratic Party–People's Party coalition; part of the European People's Party–European Democrats group.

Academic career

João de Deus Pinheiro has a licentiate degree in chemical-industrial engineering by the Instituto Superior Técnico and a doctorate degree in the same field by the University of Birmingham. Professor at the University of Lourenço Marques from 1970 to 1974, and in the University of Minho after the Carnation Revolution and his return to Portugal.

Political career

He was Minister for Education 1985–1987, Minister for Foreign Affairs 1987–1992; in that role he was one of the EU negotiators in Brioni Agreement that ended ten-day war in Slovenia in 1991; Member of the European Parliament and European Commissioner.

Life after politics

João de Deus Pinheiro was elected member of the Assembly of the Republic in 2009 elections for Braga District, but resigned shortly after for health reasons.
After leaving the European Parliament, he has been member of the board of several companies.
He is also known as a writer and amateur golfer.
Nicknamed ''John of God Pinetree' after a speech unnecessarily given in English.