Sergio Cofferati

Sergio Gaetano Cofferati (born 30 January 1948) is an Italian trade unionist and politician. He was secretary general of CGIL from 1994 to 2002, mayor of Bologna for the Democrats of the Left from 2004 to 2009, and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 to 2019 elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career Cofferati was born at Sesto ed Uniti, in the province of Cremona. Initially an employee of Milan's Pirelli and a member of CGIL, Cofferati rose up in the major Italian trade union, becoming leader of Filcea (the chemical labour wing of CGIL) in 1988, and Secretary General of the CGIL itself in 1990, succeeding Bruno Trentin. He led the CGIL until 2002, after having obtained some relevant triumphs such as negotiating the reform of pensions in 1995, and opposing the change of article 18 of the "workers' statute", a 1970 bill, which protects employees in the event of illegitimate, unjust and discriminatory dismissal.

In 2004, Cofferati was elected as mayor of Bologna, replacing Giorgio Guazzaloca. In 2008, he decided not to run for his second term as mayor.

Member of the European Parliament, 2009–2019 In 2009 Cofferati was elected to the European Parliament as a Member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. He first served on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (2009–2012) before moving to Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection in 2012. In 2016, he also joined the Parliament's temporary Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion (PANA) that investigated the Panama Papers revelations and tax avoidance schemes more broadly.

In addition to his committee assignments, Cofferati was one of the vice-chairs of the European Parliament Intergroup on Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas. He is also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Western Sahara; the European Parliament Intergroup on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights; and the MEP Heart Group, a group of parliamentarians who have an interest in promoting measures that will help reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).