Field of expertise: Political science
Ivars Ijabs is a Member of the European Parliament, elected in 2019 from the electoral alliance “Attīstībai/Par!”. In the EP he is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Delegation for relations with the United States.
Before entering politics, he was a widely known political scientist, publicist, associated professor at the University of Latvia and a researcher at the Advanced Social and Political Research Institute of the University of Latvia.
He studied philosophy in Latvia and Germany where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He holds a PhD in political science. He has participated in multiple research projects as well as in scientific conferences in Latvia and elsewhere.
He has worked not only a as lecturer at the University of Latvia, where he received the student-created “Lecturer of the Year” award, but also at the National Defence Academy of Latvia and the Latvian School of Public Administration.
As a political scientist, he has been active in Latvian media, has regularly published articles and given insightful commentary on the political processes and social-political events. He has been a moderator in multiple political discussions and has been a host of a policy-oriented radio show. He is also known as an editor, translator and author of multiple political theory books.
In the European Parliament, Ivars Ijabs is active in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), and the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), representing the “Renew Europe” group. His priorities are with legislative proposals that would bring more EU funding for science, research, and innovation in Latvia. Additionally, Ijabs gives particular consideration to issues around overcoming the climate crisis.
In October 2019, he joined the political party “Latvijas Attīstībai”.