View source for Toine Manders

{{short description|Dutch lawyer and politician (born 1956)}}
{{for|the former Libertarian Party leader|Toine Manders (born 1969)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Toine Manders
| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|MEP}}
| image = Manders, Toine-2558.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|3|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Stiphout]], [[Netherlands]]
| birth_name = Antonius Jozef Maria Manders
| residence = 
| death_date =
| death_place =
| office = [[Member of the European Parliament]]
| term_start = 2 July 2019
| term_end = 15 July 2024
| constituency = [[Netherlands (European Parliament constituency)|Netherlands]]
| term_start1 = 20 July 1999
| term_end1 = 30 June 2014
| constituency1 = [[Netherlands (European Parliament constituency)|Netherlands]]
| party = [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (2020–present)
| otherparty = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (until 2013)<br>[[50PLUS]] (2013–2020)
| religion = 
| majority = 
| spouse = 
| children = 
| website = 
| footnotes = 
| alma_mater = [[Maastricht University]]
}}
'''Antonius Jozef Maria "Toine" Manders''' (born 14 March 1956) is a Dutch lawyer and politician who served as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) in the periods 1999–2014 and 2019–2024.

He represented the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) as part of the [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe]] until 17 October 2013, when he changed party affiliations to lead [[50PLUS]] (50+) in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2014 European Parliament election]], in which he failed to win reelection. Following the [[2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2019 election]], Manders returned as an MEP and joined the [[European People's Party Group]]. Starting 2 June 2020, he no longer represented 50+ but the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (CDA).

==Early life and education==
Manders was born on 14 March 1956 in [[Stiphout]]. He attended the [[Academy for Industrial Design]] in [[Tilburg]], graduating in 1982. He proceeded to study law [[Maastricht University]], earning his degree in 1993.<ref name=parlement>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlement.com/id/vghq1igg3jz1/a_j_m_toine_manders |title=Drs. A.J.M. (Toine) Manders |language=nl |publisher=Parlement.com |access-date=2 November 2013}}</ref>

==Political career==
Manders started his political career in the municipal council of [[Asten, Netherlands|Asten]], of which he was a member between 1994 and 1999. He concurrently served as a member of the [[States-Provincial]] of [[North Brabant]] since 1995. In 1999 he resigned from both positions to run for the [[European Parliament]].<ref name=parlement/>

Manders served for the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] in the [[European Parliament]] from 20 July 1999 until 17 October 2013 as part of the [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe]]. He got enough [[Open list|preferences votes]] during each of the three elections to be chosen independent of his list position.<ref name=50plus>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21980812/__Manders__VVD__naar_50PLUS__.html |title=Toine Manders (VVD) lijsttrekker 50PLUS |language=nl |publisher=De Telegraaf |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> He left the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy to become the party leader for the [[50PLUS]] party in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2014 European Parliament election]], but the party didn't get enough votes for a seat.<ref name=50plus/> Manders felt that his former party had switched too much toward the political right, he also agreed that the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy's decision to limit their MEP terms to three might have influenced his decision. As Manders already served three terms he would not be eligible anymore.<ref name=50plus/> During the [[2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2019 European Parliament elections]] in the Netherlands, he once again ran for the [[50PLUS]] party. This time, he won a seat. On 2 June 2020, Manders left 50PLUS and joined the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] party. He did not run for [[2024 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|re-election in June 2024]], and his term ended on 15 July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/4560/ANTONIUS_MANDERS/history/9 |website = [[European Parliament]] |title = Antonius MANDERS  |access-date = 24 July 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2024/06/19/proces-verbaal-van-de-uitslag-van-de-europees-parlementsverkiezing-6-juni-2024 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 24 July 2024 |format = PDF |date = 19 June 2024 |title = Proces-verbaal centraal stembureau uitslag verkiezing Europees Parlement Model P22-1 |trans-title = Central electoral council report of the results of the election of the European Parliament Model P22-1 |pages = 15–16 }}</ref>

Since joining the European Parliament in 1999, Manders served on the [[Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection]]. In this capacity, he was the Parliament’s [[rapporteur]] on the [[Environmental Liability Directive 2004|Environmental Liability Directive (2004)]].<ref>Maria Kielmas (January 14, 2004), [https://www.politico.eu/article/nuclear-industry-reprieved-over-environmental-liability/ Nuclear industry reprieved over environmental liability] ''[[European Voice]]''.</ref> In addition to his committee assignments, he was part of the Parliament's delegation to the [[ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly]]. Manders worked on legislation mandating that bank account numbers be checked against provided names in online transactions to prevent mistaken transactions.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/de-ene-nederlander-kreeg-de-afgelopen-vijf-jaar-echt-iets-voor-elkaar-in-brussel-de-ander-helemaal-niks~a5be61fd/ |url-access = subscription |date = 4 June 2024 |last = Nijenhuis |first = Hans |access-date = 4 June 2024 |language = nl |website = [[Algemeen Dagblad]] |title = De ene Nederlander kreeg de afgelopen vijf jaar echt iets voor elkaar in Brussel, de ander helemaal niks |trans-title = Some Dutch MEPs had tangible achievements in the past five years, others did not }}</ref>

In 2009, Manders rejected as "outrageous" an allegation by a Protestant group that the [[flag of Europe]] is a [[Roman Catholic mariology|marian]] symbol, saying that similar symbols were also found in ancient Greece.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/8950 |title=Dutch Protestants find EU Mary quite contrary |publisher=Ecumenical News International |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=2 November 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.toinemanders.nl }}
* {{MEP}}
* [http://www.parlement.com/id/vghq1igg3jz1/a_j_m_toine_manders Biography at parlement.com]

{{European Parliament MEPs, 1999-2004 (Netherlands) by party}}
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2004-2009 (Netherlands) by party}}
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2009-2014 (Netherlands) by party}}
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2019-2024 (Netherlands) by party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manders, Toine}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Helmond]]
[[Category:Maastricht University alumni]]
[[Category:Municipal councillors in North Brabant]]
[[Category:Members of the Provincial Council of North Brabant]]
[[Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 1999–2004]]
[[Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2004–2009]]
[[Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2009–2014]]
[[Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians]]
[[Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy MEPs]]
[[Category:50PLUS politicians]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2019–2024]]