Mauro began his career as teacher in southern Italy after graduation and until 1999 he continued to serve as a teacher and established establish the Public Social Services University Research Centre. He was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 with the PPE-DE group. From 1999 to 2004 he was vice president for the education and culture commission. On 2 July 2004, he was elected one of the 14 vice presidents of the parliament. His tenure as vice president lasted until 2009. In June 2009, he was elected again to the parliament. He assumed the post of the leader of the Italian centre-right MEPs for the period of 2009-2013.