Jean-Luc Dehaene was born in Montpellier, France on 7 August 1940. He gained his degrees in law and economics at the Universities of Namur and Leuven. He started his political career in 1967 with C.V.P. Jongeren. From 1971, he held the position of advisor to a number of Ministerial Cabinets, and then worked as a Head of Cabinet for several different Ministers. He first held a ministerial post in 1981. From 1988 to 1992, he then became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Traffic and Transport and Institutional Reform. Finally, as Prime Minister, he led two governments, viz., from 1992 to 1995, and subsequently from 1995 to July 1999.

He is seen as the architect of state reform. He led Belgium into the Euro economy and reorganised the government finances.

On the international level, he entered the footlights at the moment of election of a new president of the Commission. The UK was the only country to object his candidature because of his image to be a convinced federalist.

He is probably the most respected politician in Belgium, not only by his own Christian Democratic party but also by the government parties. This is why they gave him the opportunity to become vice-president of the Convention.
His main quality is probably also his main weakness. He is known to be an excellent and strong negotiator, who manages to put together impossible compromises. To achieve these compromises he hates to inform the media about any progress. ‘No comments’ is his favourite interview technique. As a pragmatic he only tackles one problem at the time but he always has a long-term objective that he wants to become true.

CURRICULUM VITAE (in French)

Né à Montpellier, le 7 août 1940

Études
Licence en Droit et en Sciences économiques, Université de Namur et K.U.L.

Activités professionnelles
Commissaire du "Vlaams Verbond van Katholieke Scouts" (successeur de F. Nedée et P. Van Remoortere - 1963-1967)
Attaché au Service d'Étude de l'A.C.W. (1965-1972)

Activités politiques
Vice-Président national des Jeunes C.V.P. (1967-1971)
Membre du Bureau national du C.V.P. (depuis 1972)
Président du C.V.P. de l'Arrondissement de Bruxelles-Hal-Vilvorde (1977-1981)
Collaborateur auprès de divers Cabinets ministériels (1971-1981)
Conseiller au Cabinet des Travaux publics (Ministre J. de Saeger - 1972-1973)
Conseiller au Cabinet de la Santé publique (Ministre J. De Saeger 1973-1974)
Conseiller et ensuite Chef de Cabinet du Ministre des Affaires économiques (Ministres Oleffe et Herman - 1974-1977)
Chef de Cabinet du Ministre des Affaires flamandes (Madame R. De Backer-Van Ocken - 1977-1978)
Chef de Cabinet du Premier Ministre Wilfried Martens (1979-1981)
Chef de Cabinet du Ministre des Réformes institutionnelles (Ministre J. Chabert - 1981)

Fonctions gouvernementales
Ministre des Affaires sociales et des Réformes institutionnelles (1981-1988)
Vice-Premier Ministre et Ministre des Communications et des Réformes institutionnelles (1988-1992)
Premier Ministre (1992-1995)
Premier Ministre (1995-1999)

CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEAN-LUC DEHAENE IN THE CONVENTION

Note to the Convention: The Convention and the Forum

Statement by Jean-Luc Dehaene at the European Economic and Social Committee

ARTICLES IN THE PRESS CONCERNING JEAN-LUC DEHAENE

Convention told not to forget EU social model (EUobserver.com; 25.06.2002)

Convention accused of listening to paid lobbyists (EUobserver.com; 25.06.2002)

La Convention européenne entame son travail, la société civile tente de se faire entendre (LeMonde.fr; 21.03.2002; French)