- Born on 16 April 1922 in Zwijndrecht (B), died on 26 December 2014 in Edegem (B)

- Nationality: Belgian

- Member of Jean Monnet’s Action Committee for the United States of Europe (1960‒1975)

- Member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives (1961‒1968)

- Mayor of Edegem (1965‒1976)

- Minister for Community Relations (1968‒1972)

- Minister for Agriculture and Small and Medium-sized Businesses (1972‒1973)

- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance responsible for the coordination of institutional reforms (1973‒1974)

- Prime Minister (1974‒1978)

- President of the European People’s Party (EPP) (1976‒1985)

- Member of the European Parliament (1979‒1981, 1989‒1999)

- Minister for External Relations (1981‒1989)