Paolo Costa

Paolo Costa ( born July 23, 1943 in Venice ) is an Italian economist, politician and member of the PD. From 1999 to 2009 he was a member of the European Parliament, where he was part of the ALDE Group, 2000-2005 Mayor of Venice. Today he is head of the Port Authority.

Life

Economist

Costa studied economics at the University of Venice, where in 1968 he graduated. Later he worked at the same university as a university teacher, with visiting professorships and research stays at the University of Reading (1975) and New York University (1980, 1983 and 1988). From 1992 to 1996 he was rector of the University of Venice.

Political career

At the same time Costa was politically active, first in the Liberal Party La Margherita, since 2007 their successor party Partito Democratico. From 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Public Works in the first cabinet Romano Prodi.

In the European elections in 1999 Costa was elected to the European Parliament, where he was until 2004 Vice-Chairman of the Liberal ALDE group. He also headed from 2003 the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism ( since 2004 only Committee on Transport and Tourism ).

Mayor of Venice

1997 to 2000 he was a member of the Venetian City Council, and was founded in 2000 mayor of Venice. He was president of the Foundation for the Teatro La Fenice, Vice President of the Biennale as well as Vice President of the Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani. In 2004 he proposed a subway connection Venice to the mainland.

In 2005 he was defeated in the elections for mayor Massimo Cacciari against whom he had replaced in 2000. Costa was the port director, that is, President of the company founded in 1996 Autorità Portuale di Venezia, and president of the Adriatic ports Association.

Magistrato all Acque

In 2010, he put the government in Rome before the plan of a port in the Adriatic before the Lido, which will be built for 1.4 billion euros, in order not to destroy the lagoon, which is threatened by the increasing tanker traffic. This port is about 14 km of the front of the lagoon and allow the pumping of oil from tankers in a yet to be constructed pipeline. This is the oil to Marghera, which is to be expanded accordingly, and bring to Mantua. In addition to, a contract of 2011, a biogas plant based on algae in Pelle Trina arise which will generate 40 to 50 megawatts of electricity.

Costa sat still in the European Parliament, but resigned after the 2009 European elections of the Parliament of.

In addition, Costa is Vice President of the Council of the United Nations University in Tokyo.

Honor

In 1998 he was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit of the Italian Republic.