‒ Born on 14 March 1948 in Petit-Rechain (B), deceased 7 December 2017

‒ Nationality: Belgian

‒ PhD in Law, Master of Arts in Public Administration

‒ Assistant Professor at the Université catholique de Louvain (1970–1977)

‒ Member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives (1977–1991 and 1995–1999)

‒ Minister for the Civil Service and Scientific Policy with responsibility for the coordination of Environment Policy (1980–1981)

‒ Minister for the Budget, Scientific Policy and Planning (1981–1985)

‒ Minister for Economic Affairs (1985–1986)

‒ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Affairs (1986–1988)

‒ Minister for Finance (1988–1995)

‒ Professor at the Université catholique de Louvain (since 1989)

‒ Chairman of the G10 Finance Ministers (1990–1991)

‒ Chairman of the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the European Community (Ecofin) (1993)

‒ Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Foreign Trade (1995–1998)

‒ Chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1997–1998)

‒ Minister of State (since 1998)

‒ Leader of the Christian Social Party (PSC) (1998–1999)

‒ Senator (1999)

‒ President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) (2000–2011)

‒ Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Belgian Academy for Research and Higher Education (ARES) (since 2014)

‒ President of the International Centre for European Training (CIFE) (since 2015)