Franz Fischler (born 23 September 1946) is an Austrian politician from the Christian-conservative People's Party (ÖVP). He was the European Union's Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries (1995–2004).^[1] He also was President of the European Forum Alpbach.^[2]

Franz Fischler is married with Adelheid (Heidi) Hausmann in 1973 . They have two sons , Klaus and Georg and two daughters , Bernadette and Ursula.

Born in Absam, Tyrol Fischler studied agriculture at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, and finished as Dr rer.nat.oec. in 1978.^[1] He worked as University assistant from 1973 to 1979, then for the Tyrol Chamber of Agriculture, finally as its director from 1985 to 1989.^[1]

Between 1989 and 1994 Fischler was Federal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, and since 1990 elected Member of National Council.^[1][3] In 1995 he became European Commissioner in Brussels, responsible for agriculture and rural development.^[1] In 1999 fisheries also became part of his responsibilities.^[1]

At the 1999 Berlin summit, Fischler had significant influence on the Agenda 2000.^[4]

In 2011 Austria has decided to nominate Fischler as a candidate for the position of director general of FAO;^[5] the position went to José Graziano da Silva instead.

• Trilateral Commission, Member of the European Group.^[6]
• Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Chair of the Board of Trustees^[7]

• Nedergaard, Peter (July 2006). "The 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: against all odds or rational explanations?" (PDF). Journal of European Integration. 28 (3): 203–223. doi:10.1080/07036330600785749. S2CID 154437960.

See also: Fischler, Franz (16 September 2003). "Speech by Commissioner Fischler - From Cancun - The road ahead for the trade and agriculture negotiations (transcript of speech)". eu-un.europa.eu. European Union Delegation to the United Nations - New York: EU@UN - Partnership in Action. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015.