Reconnecting European institutions and the citizens, reorganising itself to work under the Lisbon Treaty, meet economic challenges while stepping up efficiency in combatting climate change: THe tasks ahead for the newly-elected Parliament are vast.

The Debate: Which priorities for the new Parliament? (Extended version)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14891343/P002-00055-L-EN.srt

A symbol of the reunification of Europe   after the Iron Curtain,

who's just been elected 13th president   of the European Parliament.

But who exactly is the new,   big man of the Parliament?

His surname, Buzek.   His first name, Jerzy.

In his own language, it's pronounced   'Jerzy Buzek'.

Born on 3 July, 1940 in Upper Silesia   in a Polish village, occupied by the Nazis

Buzek quickly mapped out   a scientific career for himself.

As a teenager, he dreamt   of being an MP in a Poland,

joins the independent trade union,   Solidarność in 1980.

A brief moment of freedom,   before the declaration of martial law,

But when Lech Wałęsa becomes the   first president of a democratic Poland,

Buzek is far from the political scene   due to family reasons.

Then contrary to expectations, in 1996   he's asked by his Solidarność friends

to represent the new party, AWS,   product of the trade union movement.

Back on the scene, Jerzy Buzek   is elected President of Poland.

For four years he is a man   of compromise,

trying to win over   the rival factions of Solidarność.

Since 1989 and the fall of Communism,   four years in the role becomes a record.

As prime minister, he takes   his country into NATO in 1999.

He also prepares their accession   into the European Union.

In 2001, Solidarność   becomes the opposition party.

In 2004, he is elected   to the European Parliament,

where he's reunited with colleagues   from the Solidarność era, like Geremek

who that year narrowly missed   out on the presidency of the Parliament.

Buzek was the negotiator   for the European Commission

on the development of the seventh   EU Research Framework Programme.

Here we recognise   him as a university professor,

with his 200 publications and his three   patents in the field of energy.

Unassuming scientist,   esteemed politician,

this Pole can be sure of the support   of the majority of MEPs.