He received a degree in Physics from the Free University of Brussels, a postgraduate certificate in Environmental studies and first degree in Philosophy from the Free University of Brussels. Before starting his political career he was a lecturer at the Nivelles Teacher Training College and assistant lecturer at the Free University of Brussels. Busquin was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009. During this period he was a member of the Group of the Party of European Socialists and a member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. He was a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market, member of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, member of the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China, member of the Temporary Committee on Climate Change.