Pauline Green: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=JanuaryNovember 20132021}}

| honorific-prefix = [[Dame]]

| name = Pauline Green

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}}

| image = Pauline Green 20050423 (cropped).jpg

| imagesize = 200px

| term_start4term_end4 = 1997

| predecessor6successor6 = [[GlynWayne FordDavid]]

| term_start7term_end7 = 15 JuneDecember 19891999

| predecessor7successor7 = [[John LeslieMary MarshallHoneyball]]

| birth_namebirth_place = Pauline[[Gżira]], Wiltshire[[Crown Colony of Malta]]

| birth_datedeath_date = <!-- {{BirthDeath date and age|1948YYYY|12MM|08DD|df=yYYYY|MM|DD}} -->

| citizenship =

| nationality = British

| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and [[Co-operative Party|Co-operative]]

| otherparty = = <!--For additional political affiliations-->

| spouse = Paul Green

| partner = = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married-->

| relations =

| children =

| parents =

| residence =

| education =

| alma_mater = [[Open University]], [[London School of Economics]]

| occupation =

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| known_for =

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| awards = = <!-- For civilian awards - appears as "Awards" if |mawards= is not set -->

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'''Dame Pauline Green''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} (born 8 December 1948)<ref name ="whowho">{{Citation | last =Sleeman| first =Elizabeth | title =The International Who's Who of Women 2002 | publisher= Routledge| year = 2001 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=6J8xDWDqOkEC&pg=RA2-PA118 | pages=216 |isbn=1-85743-122-7}}</ref> is a former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and [[Co-operative Party|Co-operative]] [[Member of the European Parliament]] and former Leader of the Parliamentary Group of the [[Party of European Socialists|Party of European Socialists (PES)]].<ref>{{Citation | title=CMBS Board of Directors | date = 21 November 2006 | url =http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme1025.htm |accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007 |archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071215132922/http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme1025.htm |archivedatearchive-date = 15 December 2007}}</ref> As leader of the Parliamentary Group of the PES, she had a central role in the controversy surrounding the failure to discharge the [[European Commission|European Commission (EC)]]'s 1996 budget, bringing the first motion of censure against the Commissioncommission but voting against it.<ref name ="perils">{{Citation | last=Hattersley |first=Roy|title =The perils of Pauline | date = 5 June 1999| accessdateaccess-date=29 November 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/europarl/Story/0,,206484,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref> She then changed her position following corruption allegations raised by EC official [[Paul van Buitenen]] to call for [[Jacques Santer]] (then [[President of the European Commission]]) to react promptly or be sacked.<ref>{{Citation | last=Walker |first=Martin |title =Santer gets 'sack or be sacked' ultimatum over fraud| date = 15 March 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,315848,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref> Green lost the leadership of the PES in 1999, which was attributed in part to her handling of the incident.<ref>{{Citation | last =MacAskill| first =Ewen| title =Skinner back on Labour NEC| journal = Guardian Unlimited | date = 4 September 1999 | accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/guardianpolitics/story/0,,268396,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title =Skinner back on Labour's ruling body| journal = BBC onlineOnline| date = 3 September 1999 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/437947.stm | accessdateaccess-date=28 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Grice |first=Andrew | title =Scourge of Blairites is elected to Labour NEC |date=4 journalSeptember =1999 |journal=The Independent |page=7 |url= |access-date= |edition=Foreign 4|place=London September 1999(UK) | accessdatepublisher=3Independent OctoberNewspapers 2007|(UK) urlLimited / Independent Digital News & Media / Newspaper Publishing Plc |issn=http0951-9467 |id=[[Factiva]] [https://findarticlesglobal.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990904/ai_n14249061 |format=}} {{dead link|datesa&NS=May16&an=ind0000020010906dv9400b92&drn=drn:archive.newsarticle.ind0000020010906dv9400b92&cat=a&ep=asi 2009}}ind0000020010906dv9400b92], {{Dead linkProQuest|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot312933820}}}}</ref>

In the [[2003 New Year Honours|2013]] Green was appointed as a [[Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) while also holding the office of the President of [[International Co-operative Alliance|ICA]] Europe<ref name="CERA">{{Citation| last =Green| first =Pauline| title =Co-operatives Europe Regional Assembly, Saturday 11 November 2006 Statutory Meeting| date =11 November 2006| url =http://www.coopseurope.coop/IMG/pdf/PG_-_Speech_to_Statutory_Meeting_11.11.06.pdf| format =PDF| accessdate =2 October 2007}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> until her election as President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in November 2009. As with her appointment to Co-operatives UK, she is the first female president in the organisation's history.<ref>{{Citation| title =New Board of Directors for the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)| date =November 2009| url =http://www.coopseurope.coop/spip.php?article779| accessdateaccess-date =10 December 2009| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162312/http://www.coopseurope.coop/spip.php?article779| archivedatearchive-date =18 July 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref>

Green was born '''Pauline Wiltshire''' in [[Gżira]]<ref name= "whowho" /> on the island of Malta to an [[English people|English]] soldier serving with the Royal Artillery and his Maltese sweetheart in 1948. The family moved between Malta, Egypt and Germany, following Green's father wherever he was stationed.<ref name ="other">{{Citation | last =Marshall | first =Andrew | title =Labour's Other Leader |date=5 journalFebruary =1996 |journal=The Independent |page=21 date|url= |place=London, 5UK February|publisher=Independent 1996Digital |News url& Media / Newspaper Publishing Plc |issn=http0951-9467 |id={{ProQuest|312459591}}, [[Factiva]] [https://findarticlesglobal.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960205/ai_n14027394 | format =}}sa&NS=16&an=indos00020011103dr25000f0&drn=drn:archive.newsarticle.indos00020011103dr25000f0&cat=a&ep=asi {{deadindos00020011103dr25000f0] link|datedepartment=May 2009Comment}}</ref> As a result, Green spent "a lot of [her] very young days in army barracks" and "missed out on secondary and further education".<ref name= "perils" />

In 1971, she was working in the West Hampstead division when she met and married PC Paul Green,<ref name= "whowho" /> resigning from the force in 1974 five months before the birth of her first child.<ref name= "perils" /> Paul Green went on to become Chief Superintendent Green, borough commander for Brent, and was awarded the [[Queen's Police Medal]] in the 1999 [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|New Year's Honours]]<ref>{{Citation | title = Special Report: 1999: 12: 99: New Years Honours | date = 31 December 1999| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584217.stm | accessdateaccess-date =25 September 2007 | work=BBC News}}</ref> before retiring in 2000.<ref>{{Citation | title = Bound Volume Hansard – Debate | date = 23 June 2000 | url =https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000623/debtext/00623-18.htm | accessdateaccess-date =25 September 2007}}</ref> He and Green divorced in 2003.<ref>{{Citation | title =Who's Who 2007 | publisher= A&C Black| date = 3 January 2007 | edition=159 |isbn=978-0-7136-7527-6}}</ref>

Whilst staying at home to look after her two children (a son and a daughter), Green studied for a degree from the [[Open University]]. She then spent two full-time years studying at the [[London School of Economics|LSE]] for an [[Master's Degree|MSc (Econ)]] in Comparative Government. She spent two years between 1982 and 1984 as a lecturer at Barnet College of Further Education, before becoming an assistant teacher at a Special Educational Unit.<ref name= "whowho" /> During this period Green was increasing active in local politics,<ref name= "perils" /> becoming secretary and then chair of the [[Chipping Barnet]] Labour Party, before standing in (and losing) the elections for a seat on the area's council in 1986.<ref>{{Citation | title =Former UK Women Members of the European Parliament| year = 2000 | url =http://www.qub.ac.uk/cawp/UK%20bios/UK_bios_MEP.htm#green |accessdateaccess-date=26 September 2007}}</ref> In 1985, she left her teaching career to become Parliamentary Advisor on European Affairs to the Co-operative Union, a position which she left in 1989 as her political career began.<ref name= "whowho" />

Due to the changing political landscape, Green found that her job increasingly saw her lobbying to [[European Union|Brussels]], with her particular interest being a directive backed by the [[cooperativesCooperative|co-operative]] movement creating [[List of international common standards|common standards]] for [[Food safety|food hygiene]] across Europe. In June 1989, she announced her intention to stand for a seat in the European elections to help ensure the adoption of the draft directive. She visited "most of the 65 local branches" of the constituency of [[London North (European Parliament constituency)|London North]]<ref name="perils"/> and won the seat with a majority of 5,387. She was re-elected to the seat in 1994 with a majority of 48,348.<ref>{{Citationcite web |titlelast1=Boothroyd |first1=David |title=United Kingdom European Parliamentary Election results 1979–99: London |yearurl=1999http://www.election.demon.co.uk/eplon.html |website=Election Demon |access-date=27 January 2022 |date=11 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030411210415/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/eplon.html |accessdatearchive-date=2811 SeptemberApril 20072003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Green was elected Leader of the [[European Parliamentary Labour Party|European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP)]] in 1993, beating incumbent leader [[Glyn Ford]]. She only served for one year, however, after having been chosen and championed by then Labour leader [[John Smith (UKLabour PoliticianParty leader)|John Smith]] to become the new leader of the Parliamentary Group of the PES.<ref name= "perils"/>

At the 1994 Party Leaders' Conference in Corfu, a "package deal" was agreed to fill the upcoming political posts, and it was agreed that Green would take the leadership post with strong backing from the Labour contingent. Green was strongly involved in the fight against [[Apartheid|Apartheid in South Africa]].<ref>[http://www.thenews.coop/40333/news/business/nelson-mandela-and-co-operative-movements-fight-freedom Nelson Mandela and Co-operative Movements fight apartheid], thenews.coop; accessed 7 April 2016.</ref>

Ian White, an MEP elected at the same time as Green, said: "Although the parliamentary group formally elected Pauline, the "deal" was put together by the national party leaders. I believe that, had it been an open election, she would have won in any case, hands down, on competence alone."<ref>{{Citation | lastlast1 =Baker | firstfirst1 =David | last2=Seawright | first2=David | title =Britain For and Against Europe | publisher =[[Oxford University Press]] | year = 1998 |pages=210 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=MBKbtzPdbhQC&pg=PA210&dq=Pauline+Green |isbn =0-19-828078-5}}</ref>

She held the position for five years (1994–99), and was involved at senior levels of policy making in the [[European Union]] and member governments. In 1998 there were rumours that she would stand to be Labour's candidate for [[Mayor of London]]. Whilst she expressed an interest in the position, she maintained that she would not be able to commit to the position until after the 1999 leadership elections because of her European commitments.<ref>{{Citation | title = To Be Mayor Or Not To Be, That Is The Question | journal = Hillingdon Times | date = 10 October 1998 | accessdateaccess-date = 3 October 2007 | url = http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/archive/display.var.77338.0.to_be_mayor_or_not_to_be_that_is_the_question.php | deadurlurl-status = yesdead | archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043148/http://www.hillingdontimes.co.uk/archive/display.var.77338.0.to_be_mayor_or_not_to_be_that_is_the_question.php | archivedatearchive-date = 27 September 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name ="trouble">{{Citation | last=Mann |first=Nyta | title =Looking forward to more Euro-trouble| date = 1 April 1999| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/308787.stm| journal=BBC onlineOnline| accessdateaccess-date=1 October 2007}}</ref>

Green was seen as a strong advocate of EU parliamentary and institutional reform: she was vocal in her criticisms of any hint of impropriety, for example calling ex-commissioner [[Martin Bangemann|Martin Bangemann's]] appointment to [[Spain|Spanish]] telecommunications giant [[Telefonica]] "sleaze soaked" for the impression it gave that he had used his position in the EC for his own advantage – even though he had broken no rules.<ref>{{Citation | last=Walker |first=Martin |title =Anger as EU commissioner takes top telecom job| date = 1 July 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/eurocommission/Story/0,,206426,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref> However, her own final year as leader saw its own controversy with allegations of corruption against the EC.

It was then that Green asserted that the argument would normally be solved in a national democracy by a [[Motion of Confidenceno confidence|vote of confidence]]: since that option did not exist in EU legislation, she instead tabled a motion of censure against the EC. Green explained that "One of the fundamental reasons for tabling this motion of censure was to decide now – immediately – whether or not the European Commission is able to do its work."

Because of their belief that the EC should be allowed to continue its reform work, Green and the PES Parliamentary Group announced that they would be voting against their own motion of censure<ref>[https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/6AoaLkl2W?url=web/20190708192742/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/debats/debats?FILE=99-01-14&LANGUE=EN&LEVEL=DOC&GCSELECTCHAP=3&GCSELECTPERS=32 Debates of the European Parliament: 14 January 1999]</ref> – effectively trying to defeat a call for the sacking of the EC that they had made.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/historic_moments/newsid_8207000/8207105.stm BBC Democracy Live: 14 January 1999: Crisis in the EU]</ref>

As the argument continued, the parliament also refused to discharge the 1997 budget – and at the same time, allegations of corruption were made against the French commissioner [[Édith Cresson]]. Commission official [[Paul van Buitenen]] accused Cresson of having employed her friend and dentist for eight months as a special advisor on the Environment, at a cost of £30,000. The position was described by sub-contractors in sworn statements as a job "for which he is not required to do any work".<ref>{{Citation | last=Walker |first=Martin |title =MEPs brandish new budget stick at commission | date = 25 February 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,315281,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref> The EC agreed to launch an enquiry in return for the parliament ending its moves to censure the commission.<ref>{{Citation | last=Walker |first=Martin |title =Team for Brussels fraud enquiry agreed| date = 28 January 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,324027,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref>

The eventual report found that the allegations were correct, and Green joined those calling for Santer to respond promptly or risk losing his own position. A second censure motion was tabled, but before it was voted on the entire EC [[Santer Commission#Resignation|resigned]]<ref>{{Citation | last=Walker |first=Martin |title =EU chiefs resign en masse| date = 16 March 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,315927,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref> – although they were still allowed to keep their salaries and jobs as an interim arrangement to electing a new Commission.<ref name= "perils" /> Green saw the resignation as an opportunity to improve the running of the EU, in particularly the ability of the parliament to veto the appointment of the next head of the Commissioncommission. She said: "We have to use this opportunity to keep pushing for more openness, more transparency, more public control and accountability in the way Europe is run. We now have a real opportunity to go to the voters in the June elections and prove to them that the European Parliament has done its job and changed the political culture of Brussels once and for all."<ref name ="BritMEP">{{Citation | last=Walker |first=Martin |title =British MEP keeps sights set on reform| date = 19 March 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url=https://www.theguardian.com/eurofraud/Story/0,,209826,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref>

The EU member governments – including [[Tony Blair]]’s's – were not keen on extending the Parliament's powers, but on [[May Day]] the [[Treaty of Amsterdam|Amsterdam Treaty]] came into effect, which extended their influence somewhat.<ref name= "trouble" /> The Parliament had the opportunity to vote their approval of new EC head [[Romano Prodi]], and did so 392 votes for to 72 against.<ref>{{Citation | title =EU parliament give Prodi vote of approval| date = 5 May 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url=https://www.theguardian.com/eurocommission/Story/0,,206419,00.html| journal=The Guardian}}</ref> However, Green's stock was damaged by the long controversy, with even her friends and supporters considering that her handling of the affair did not come across as a coherent strategy,<ref name= "perils" /> although one commentator at the time did praise the way she had "ridden the Brussels storm with verve and conviction."<ref name= "BritMEP" /> It was against this background – and allegations that she had improperly used her official car<ref>{{Citation | last=Bates |first=Stephen |title =Party leaders got cars on the cheap| date = 24 May 1999| accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url=https://www.theguardian.com/guardianpolitics/story/0,,296001,00.html | work=The Guardian}}</ref> that Green dismissed as a "cheap jibe" that had been blown out of all proportion<ref name= "trouble" /> – that Green had to stand for re-election in her London constituency.

Green retained her seat in the [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999 European Parliament election]]<ref>{{Citation | title =Members elected to the European Parliament, June 1999| date = 10 June 1999| url =http://www.europarl.org.uk/guide/results1999/london.html| accessdateaccess-date =26 September 2007 |archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070128074456/http://www.europarl.org.uk/guide/results1999/london.html |archivedatearchive-date = 28 January 2007}}</ref> with a reduced majority of 26,477.<ref>{{Citation| title =European Election 10 June 1999| date =10 June 1999| url =http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/previous-election-results/european-election-10th-june-1999.en;jsessionid=9203BEBE65C7D358632904F4AC075187.node2| accessdateaccess-date =28 September 2007| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110611230803/http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/previous-election-results/european-election-10th-june-1999.en%3Bjsessionid%3D9203BEBE65C7D358632904F4AC075187.node2| archivedatearchive-date =11 June 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref> This was typical of the Labour Party's performance, with its share of the vote slipping from 44.24% in 1994 to 28.03% causing a resultant reduction in seats from 62 to 29.<ref>{{Citation|title=European Parliament elections 1999 – Results and explanations : United Kingdom |date=10 June 1999 |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/election/newep/en/pptsuk.shtm |accessdateaccess-date=26 September 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005193903/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/election/newep/en/pptsuk.shtm |archivedatearchive-date=5 October 2008 |df= }}</ref> The European Socialists also did badly in the elections, and lost their dominance of the Parliament,<ref>{{Citation| title =Political European Election Study 1999| date =2 March 2002| url =http://www.europeanelectionstudies.net/seiten/study1999.html| accessdateaccess-date =1 October 2007| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071019052344/http://www.europeanelectionstudies.net/seiten/study1999.html| archivedatearchive-date =19 October 2007| df =dmy-all}}</ref> with the [[European People's Party]] becoming the largest group in Parliament.<ref>{{Citation|title=Political Groups in the Parliament: European People's Party and European Democrats |date=17 February 2006 |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/008-5260-045-02-07-901-20060214STO05259-2006-14-02-2006/default_en.htm |accessdateaccess-date=1 October 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212154856/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/008-5260-045-02-07-901-20060214STO05259-2006-14-02-2006/default_en.htm |archivedatearchive-date=12 February 2007 }}</ref>

Green was asked by Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] to restand for the Parliamentary Group leadership.<ref name= "perils" /> However she withdrew when it became clear she faced opposition from Spanish, German and French socialists<ref>{{Citation | last =Walker| first =Martin | title =Britain loses leadership of European socialists| journal = Guardian Unlimited | date = 7 July 1999 |accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/europarl/Story/0,,206437,00.html}}</ref> to allow the brokering of a deal making [[Robin Cook]] to become president of the PES president(i.e. the wider PES party outside Parliament, not the Parliamentary Group).<ref>{{Citation | last =Walker| first =Martin | title =Cook Steers EU Socialists in Balkan Role| journal = Guardian Unlimited | date = 8 July 1999 | accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/europarl/Story/0,,206436,00.html}}</ref> The following September, she also lost her seat on the Labour [[National Executive Committee of the Labour Party|National Executive Committee]], with the slump in her popularity being largely attributed to her earlier handling of the EC "scandal" and Labour's poor performance in the European parliamentary elections.

In November 1999, Green announced that she would be retiring as an MEP to become the first female chief executive of the Co-operative Union, officially taking up the position on [[New Year's Day]] 2000.<ref name= "inBrief" /> The decision led to criticism from some quarters, as the mechanics of the electoral system meant that the public would not vote in Green's successor, and instead the next candidate on Labour's list automatically replaced her. [[Theresa Villiers]], a fellow MEP for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] said Green's "resignation demonstrates a total lack of regard for the electorate".<ref>{{Citation| title =Government| date =29 November 1999| url =http://www.kc3.co.uk/~dt/Government.htm| accessdateaccess-date =26 September 2007| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061014060638/http://www.kc3.co.uk/~dt/Government.htm| archivedatearchive-date =14 October 2006| df =dmy-all}}</ref>

Green was caught up in further controversy the following year, regarding the list of voters eligible to decide the Labour candidate for the 2000 London Mayor elections. Complaints were made about Green's inclusion on the list despite her resignation as an MEP<ref>{{Citation | lastlast1=Carr-Brown | firstfirst1=Jonathon| last2=Dillon| first2=Jo| title=It's a fix, says Ken as he heads into tight finish| journal=The Independent| date=20 February 2000 | accessdatejournal=3The OctoberIndependent 2007| url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article286142.ece}}{{dead link|access-date=September3 2017October 2007 |botarchive-url=InternetArchiveBothttps://web.archive.org/web/20091125235906/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/its-a-fix-says-ken-as-he-heads-into-tight-finish-725688.html |fixarchive-attempteddate=2009-11-25 |url-status=dead |publisher=Independent News and Media Limited |last2=Dillon |first2=Jo |department=yesUK Politics}}</ref> with her vote reported as being "worth a thousand times that of any ordinary member".<ref>{{Citation | last=Seddon| first=Mark| title =We was robbed| journal = Guardian Unlimited| date = 21 February 2000 | accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2007| url =https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,234387,00.html}}</ref>

Green already had a track record in the UK co-operative movement. As well as her status as a Labour and Co-operative MEP and advisory position with the Co-operative Union, she had been a [[The Woodcraft Folk|Woodcraft Folk]] leader and was made president of the Industrial Common Ownership Movement (ICOM) in 1999.<ref>{{Citation | last=Green | first=Pauline | title=Europe and Social Partnership: NCVO Annual Conference Keynote Speech | year=1999 | url=http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/speeches/?id=1275 | accessdateaccess-date=26 September 2007 | deadurlurl-status=yesdead | archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121231225/http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/speeches/?id=1275 | archivedatearchive-date=21 November 2007 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> As an MEP, she had also been elected President of the 1997 [[Co-operative Congress]].<ref name="choose">{{Citation|title=The Co-operative Commission: Choose a Commissioner |year=2002 |url=http://www.co-opcommission.org.uk/annexes/annex1.html#Anchor-Pauline-51540 |archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20010215010838/http://www.co-opcommission.org.uk/annexes/annex1.html |dead-url-status=yesdead |archive-date=15 February 2001 |accessdateaccess-date=1 October 2007 }}</ref> She was welcomed to the movement by the 2000 Congress President, Pat Wheatley, who described her as "someone of great wisdom, true co-operative principles" and "a shining example of 'courage under fire'" for her work with the PES.<ref>{{Citation | last=Wheatley | first=Pat |title =Co-operative Congress Manchester 2000: President's Address| year =2000}}</ref>

[[File:HolyoakeHouse.JPG|thumb|Holyoake House, head office of Co-operatives UK where Green was Chief Executive]]Within two weeks of starting work at the Union, Green sat down with other high-profile members of the co-operative movement and drafted a letter to [[Tony Blair]]. The letter – signed by Green, [[EdwardTed Graham, Baron Graham of Edmonton|Lord Graham of Edmonton]], Graham Melmoth, and Len Fyfe – called on the Prime Minister to sponsor a commission to review the co-operative movement and determine its future development and modernisation. The letter arrived against a background of the impending merger of the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) and [[Co-operative Retail Services]] to create [[the Co-operative Group]],<ref name="process">{{Citation|title=Process and Overview |year=2002 |url=http://www.co-opcommission.org.uk/introduction/intro_fr.html |archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20010215214543/http://www.co-opcommission.org.uk/introduction/intro_fr.html |deadurl-urlstatus=yesdead |archive-date=15 February 2001 |accessdateaccess-date=1 October 2007 }}</ref> as well as recent efforts by entrepreneur [[Andrew Regan]] to [[Demutualization|demutualise]] the CWS.<ref name ="agenda">{{Citation | last=Hyland | first=Anne |title =Co-op finally puts survival on agenda| date =3 March 2000| url =http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,235009,00.html| journal=The Guardian |accessdateaccess-date =1 October 2007}}</ref> Blair responded favourably to the request, and pledged his support in setting up a [[Co-operative Commission]].<ref name= "process" />

The Commissioncommission was officially launched under chair [[John Monks]] on 24 February 2000,<ref name= "process" /> with Green being invited to serve as one of the 12 commissioners.<ref name= "choose" /> There was a [[whisper campaign|whispering campaign]] amongst Labour MPs that the Commissioncommission was intended to look at the party's funding relationship with the co-operative movement, which Green dismissed as "nonsense."<ref name= "agenda" /> The Commissioncommission's final report was published in January 2001,<ref>{{Citation| title =the co-operative advantage: Creating a successful family of Co-operative businesses| date =January 2001| url =http://www.co-opcommission.org.uk/index2.html| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://archive.istoday/20010215011209/http://www.co-opcommission.org.uk/index2.html| archivedatearchive-date =15 February 2001| df =dmy-all}}</ref> leaving Green to begin the work of co-ordinating the Union's response.

The Union began a "deliberate attempt to secure and celebrate [the] co-operative advantage" by increasing its ties with other organisations across the co-operative movement: they began providing professional and admin services for the [[United Kingdom Co-operative Forum|United Kingdom Co-operative Council (UKCC)]] and ICOM, and working with co-operative support organisations across the country to establish the "first ever 'all movement' Co-ordination Movement".<ref name ="Annual2000" /> This work continued into 2001, with Green using her joint positions in ICOM and the Union to facilitate a merger of the two organisations, bringing together the worker and consumer co-operative sectors that had existed separately for over 100 years.<ref>{{Citation |last=Green | first=Pauline | contribution= Chief Executive & General Secretary's review of the year | title =Co-operative Union LTD incorporating ICOM – the worker co-op federation Annual Report & Financial Statements 2001| pages=3 | date =31 December 2001}}</ref> The membership voted in December 2002 in favour of a change in the Union's name to reflect its new make-up<ref>{{Citation |last=Green |first=Pauline | contribution=New strategic purpose and direction| title =Co-operatives UK Annual Report & Financial Statements 2002| pages=5 | date =31 December 2002}}</ref> and in January 2003 the organisation was officially relaunched as Co-operatives UK.<ref>{{Citation | title =History| date = 13 May 2005| url =http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/About/history| accessdateaccess-date =1 October 2007 | format =|archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070914023103/http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/About/history |archivedatearchive-date = 14 September 2007}}</ref>

Green continued to work at "driving a culture change in Co-operatives UK" – for example leading the organisation to become the first co-operative to partner with the [[National Association of Co-operative Officials|National Association of Co-operative Officials (NACO)]] as its recognised trade union<ref>{{Citation | title =NACO for all at Co-operatives UK | date = 13 August 2006| url =http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/News/newsArchive/2006/nacoLinkUp| accessdateaccess-date =4 October 2007 | format =|archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071218082115/http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/News/newsArchive/2006/nacoLinkUp |archivedatearchive-date = 18 December 2007}}</ref> or successfully opposing recommendations from the [[International Accounting Standards Board|International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)]] that would have seen co-operative members' share capital classed as debt, "destroying" the co-operative advantage.<ref>{{Citation|title=Co-operativesUK Blocks Major Threat to Co-operatives Movement |date=14 February 2005 |url=http://www.via3.net/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_131058 |accessdateaccess-date=4 October 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://archive.istoday/20090113225608/http://www.via3.net/pooled/articles/BF_NEWSART/view.asp?Q=BF_NEWSART_131058 |archivedatearchive-date=13 January 2009 |df= }}</ref>

In October 2002, Green was elected as the President of [[International Co-operative Alliance|ICA]] Europe, the umbrella body for European co-operatives.<ref name= "CERA" /> This led in turn to her becoming co-chair of Co-operatives Europe in November 2006, sharing her duties with Etienne Pflimlin.<ref>{{Citation| title =the Espriu Foundation: Information| date =11 November 2006| url =http://www.fundacionespriu.coop/actividades/detalle.php?Mw==&MTE2&cmVzdW1lbmVz| accessdateaccess-date =2 October 2007| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162117/http://www.fundacionespriu.coop/actividades/detalle.php?Mw==&MTE2&cmVzdW1lbmVz| archivedatearchive-date =18 July 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref> The organisation was formed by ICA Europe and the [[Co-ordinating Committee of European Co-operative Organisations|Co-ordinating Committee of European Co-operative Organisations (CCACE)]] to "work together on issues of importance to co-operatives in Europe", following a drive by Green for closer co-operation between the major European co-operative bodies.<ref>{{Citation | title =Co-operatives to Collaborate on European Stage| date = 30 April 2004| url =http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme406.htm| accessdateaccess-date =2 October 2007 |archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061012231538/http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/cme406.htm |archivedatearchive-date = 12 October 2006}}</ref>

Green announced that she intended to retire as chief executive of the organisation in 2009, saying: "I will be 60 at [that time] and I have always intended to retire when I reached that milestone. The Board [of Co-operatives UK] and I agreed that it made sense for me to finish after [[Co-operative Congress]] 2009, which is, to all intents and purposes, the end of our co-operative year."<ref>{{Citation|title=Dame Pauline to step down as CEO in 2009 |date=6 October 2008 |url=http://www.thenews.coop/news/Wider%20Co-op%20Movement/1435 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008135358/http://thenews.coop/news/Wider%20Co-op%20Movement/1435 |dead-url-status=yesdead |archive-date=8 October 2008 |accessdateaccess-date=7 October 2008 }}</ref> She was succeeded in November 2009 by [[Ed Mayo]].<ref>{{Citation | title =Welcoming Ed Mayo| date = 2 November 2009| url =http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/dynamic/News2ShowArticle.asp?article_id=08C471E2-2988-4912-AD04-94E4A9155114&id=0&cmetemplate=Co-operativesUK/dynamic_template.tmp| accessdateaccess-date =9 November 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Green was elected Chairchair of the Boardboard of [[Supporters Direct]] following her retirement from Co-operatives UK,<ref>{{Citation| title =Dame Pauline Green elected Chair of Supporters Direct| date =2 November 2009| url =http://www.supporters-direct.org/news/item.asp?n=5866| accessdateaccess-date =9 November 2009| deadurlurl-status =yesdead| archiveurlarchive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141724/http://www.supporters-direct.org/news/item.asp?n=5866| archivedatearchive-date =11 June 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref> and also elected President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). Following her election, she stood down from her position within Co-operatives Europe. She resigned as President of the ICA, two years before her term ended, as the result of [[The CooperativeCo-operative Group]] to cutcutting its financial support for the ICA.<ref>{{cite web |work=The Guardian|date=27 June 2015 |url =https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/27/lobby-alliance-president-resigns-after-co-operative-group-pulls-funding|title=Lobby alliance president resigns after Co-operative Group pulls funding }}</ref>

In 1988, Green was awarded honorary Doctorates from the [[University of North London]] and [[Middlesex University]], and was made Commander of the [[Order of Honour (Greece)|Order of Honour]] in 1994 by the [[President of Greece]]. She has since been awarded the Grand Golden Cross with Star by the President of the Republic of [[Austria]], and been made Grand Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Cyprus.<ref name= "whowho" /> In the [[2003 New Year Honours|New Year’sYear's Honours 2003]] Green was appointed as a [[Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) "for services to the Co-operative Movement and to the development of the European Union"<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=56797|page=7|date=31 December 2002 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2003 |title=Pauline's Palace date |url=https://www.thenews.coop/34271/sector/retail/pauline039s-palace-date/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126182457/https://www.thenews.coop/34271/sector/retail/pauline039s-palace-date/ |archive-date=2021-01-26 |work=Co-operative News}}</ref>

{{succession box|title=President of the [[International Co-operative Alliance]]|years=2009 – 20152009–2015|before=Ivano Barberini|after=[[Monique F. Leroux|Monique Leroux]]}}

[[Category:Members20th-century ofwomen the European ParliamentMEPs for English constituenciesEngland]]

[[Category:Women MEPs for England 1989–1994]]

[[Category:MEPs for theEngland United Kingdom 1989–19941994–1999]]

[[Category:InternationalCooperative opponents of apartheid in South Africaadvocates]]