Given the question: What key details about paolo costa can be extracted from the following bio? Bio: paolo costa -lrb- born 23 july 1943 in venice -rrb- is the president of the venice port authority . he was elected as an italian member of the european parliament in 1999 and 2004 , and since 2003 he was the chair of the committee on transport and tourism at the european parliament . he was elected on the olive tree ticket and sat with the alliance of liberals and democrats for europe group . before entering politics he held numerous posts in planning and economics at ca ' foscari university of venice , university of reading , u.k. , and new york university . he served as pro-rector of ca ' foscari university in venice -lrb- 1992 -- 1996 -rrb- . he was a member of venice city council -lrb- 1997 -- 2000 -rrb- and mayor of venice -lrb- 2000 -- 2005 -rrb- . he was chairman of the council of aisre -lrb- italian association of regional science -rrb- -lrb- 1982 -- 1984 -rrb- ; member of the scientific committee for the italian general transport plan -lrb- 1985 -- 1987 -rrb- , and italian minister for public works -lrb- 1996 -- 1998 -rrb- . he received the honour of knight of the grand cross , order of merit of the italian republic in 1998 .
The answer is:
- profession is economist university professor- order is member minister of public works of the european parliament mayor of venice italian- successor is massimo cacciari enrico micheli- party is democratic party- predecessor is massimo cacciari antonio di pietro- primeminister is romano prodi- term end is 2014 april 25 , 2005 21 october 1998- constituency is north-east- term start is 2004 april 30 , 2000 20 november 1996- birth date is 23 july 1943- name is paolo costa mep- nationality is italian- birth place is venice , italy- religion is roman catholic- alma mater is ca ' foscari university of venice