Brussels. The Praesidium of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the
European Union (COPA) today unanimously elected Rudolf SCHWARZBÖCK new President
for the period 2005 – 2007. He succeeds to Peter GAEMELKE whose two-year term-in-office
is expiring.
Gerard DOORNBOS (NL), Esa HÄRMÄLÄ (FIN), Kyriakos KYRIAKOU (CY), Jean-Michel
LEMETAYER (FR), Wladislaw SERAFIN (PL) and Ricardo SERRA ARIAS (ES) were elected
Vice-Presidents.
Rudolf SCHWARZBÖCK has been the President of the Austrian Chambers of Agriculture
since 1990 and a member of the COPA Praesidium since 1995. From 1985 to 2005, he was
President of the Chamber of Agriculture of Lower Austria. As President of the Austrian
farmers Rudolf SCHWARZBÖCK holds a number of key positions in Austrian agriculture. He
runs a farm holding in Lower Austria.
Gerard DOORNBOS has since 1995 been the President of the Dutch agricultural and
horticultural organizations (LTO). From 1998 till 2002, he has also been the President of the
International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), and since 2002, he is a member of
the Board as well as the Chairman of the IFAP Trade Committee.
Esa HÄRMÄLÄ has since 1994 been the President of the Finnish Central Union of
Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners. Furthermore, he has since 2001 been a Vice-
President of IFAP as well as President of the European Forest Owners’ Confederation
(CEPF). Mr HÄRMÄLÄ is a Finnish forest owner.
Kyriakos KYRIAKOU is Secretary General of the Cypriot "Panagrotikos Farmers’ Union" and
Director of the Rural Development Institute of Cyprus. He in Cyprus runs a farm producing
olives, citrus fruit and cereals.
Jean-Michel LEMETAYER has been President of the French National Federation of
Agricultural Farmers’ Unions (FNSEA) since 2001. From 1995 to 2002, he has been
President of the National Dairy Producers’ (FNPL) and, since 1995, he is the President of
the French national agricultural fair (SPACE). Mr. LEMETAYER runs a family farm in Ille et
Vilaine in Brittany which mainly produces milk and cereals.
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Wladislaw SERAFIN has since 1999 been President of the Polish Farmers’ Union
(KZRKIOR). He holds many positions in agricultural and social organisations, and he from
1989 -1997 was a member of the Polish Parliament representing the Polish Farmers’ party.
Mr SERAFIN runs a farm holding in Silesia.
Ricardo SERRA ARIAS is currently President of the Spanish Agricultural Organisation ASAJA
of Andalucia and has since 1993 been Vice-President of the ASAJA National Organisation.
He is also the international representative of ASAJA since 2001. Since 1987, he has been
farming in Andalucia and producing cotton, potatoes, citrus fruits and sunflowers.
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