Frans Timmermans | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Timmermans in 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Leader ofGroenLinks–PvdA in theHouse of Representatives | |||||||||||||
| In office 6 December 2023 – 3 November 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jesse Klaver | ||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal | |||||||||||||
| In office 1 December 2019 – 22 August 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Commission | Von der Leyen I | ||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Position established | ||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Maroš Šefčovič | ||||||||||||
| European Commissioner for Climate Action | |||||||||||||
| In office 1 December 2019 – 22 August 2023 | |||||||||||||
| Commission | Von der Leyen I | ||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Miguel Arias Cañete | ||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Maroš Šefčovič (acting) | ||||||||||||
| First Vice President of the European Commission | |||||||||||||
| In office 1 November 2014 – 30 November 2019 | |||||||||||||
| Commission | Juncker | ||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Catherine Ashton | ||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Position abolished | ||||||||||||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||||||||||||
| In office 5 November 2012 – 17 October 2014 | |||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte | ||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Uri Rosenthal | ||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Bert Koenders | ||||||||||||
| State Secretary for European Affairs | |||||||||||||
| In office 22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 | |||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende | ||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Atzo Nicolaï | ||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Ben Knapen | ||||||||||||
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |||||||||||||
| In office 6 December 2023 – 11 November 2025 | |||||||||||||
| In office 9 June 2010 – 5 November 2012 | |||||||||||||
| In office 6 May 1998 – 22 February 2007 | |||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||
| Born | Franciscus Cornelis Gerardus Maria Timmermans (1961-05-06)6 May 1961 (age 64) | ||||||||||||
| Political party | Labour (since 1990) | ||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | Democrats 66 (1985) | ||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Education | Radboud University(BA,MA) Nancy 2 University(LLM,MA) | ||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Netherlands | ||||||||||||
| Branch/service |  Royal Netherlands Army | ||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1986–1987 | ||||||||||||
| Unit |  Military Intelligence and Security Service | ||||||||||||
Franciscus Cornelis Gerardus Maria Timmermans (Dutch:[frɑnˈsɪskʏskɔrˈneːlɪsxeːˈrɑrdʏsfrɑnsˈtɪmərˌmɑns];[a] born 6 May 1961) is a Dutch politician, who was the leader ofGroenLinks–PvdA in theHouse of Representatives from2023 to2025.
From 2019 to 2023, Timmermans wasExecutive Vice President of the European Commission for theEuropean Green Deal andEuropean Commissioner for Climate Action in thevon der Leyen I Commission. Prior to that, he was First Vice-President underJean-Claude Juncker (2014–2019), overseeing Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, the Rule of Law, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. He was also theParty of European Socialists’ lead candidate for theEuropean Commission presidency in the2019 European elections.
Before his roles inBrussels, Timmermans served asDutch Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012–2014) in theSecond Rutte cabinet and as State Secretary for European Affairs (2007–2010) in theFourth Balkenende cabinet. He was a member of the House of Representatives for the Labour Party from 1998 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2012. Earlier in his career, from 1987 to 1998, he worked as a diplomat in the Dutch foreign service.
Timmermans resigned from the European Commission in 2023 to lead the jointGroenLinks–PvdA alliance in the2023 Dutch general election. The alliance emerged as the second-largest parliamentary group, with Timmermans now serving as its leader in the House of Representatives. After disappointing results at the2025 general election, Timmermans announced his resignation as leader of the alliance.
Timmermans was born on 6 May 1961 inMaastricht to aRoman Catholic family.[1] His parents divorced during his childhood, after which his father was mostly absent because of his career as security officer at the Dutch foreign ministry.[2][3] Timmermans attended elementary school inSint-Stevens-Woluwe, Belgium, before attending, from 1972 to 1975, the privateSaint George's English School inRome.[4] From 1975 until 1980, he attended theathenaeumBernardinuscollege inHeerlen, where he settled.[5]
In 1980, Timmermans enrolled atRadboud University Nijmegen, where he studied French language and literature and graduated with aMaster of Arts degree in 1985.[6] During his studies, in 1984, he also attendedNancy University inNancy, France, where he pursued European law, history and French literature, earning both aMaster of Laws inEuropean Law and an additional MA degree in 1985.[7]
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Timmermans completed his military service in theRoyal Netherlands Army, where he served as aprivate first class and RussianPOW interrogator with theMilitary Intelligence and Security Service, until his discharge in August 1987.[3] Immediately thereafter, he joined theMinistry of Foreign Affairs as an Officer in the Integration Department, focusing on European cooperation and international affairs.[8] In 1990, he was appointed Second Secretary at the Dutch Embassy inMoscow, where he served during a period of major political change following thedissolution of the Soviet Union.[9] He returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993 as Deputy Head of the Bureau for European Development Cooperation, overseeing European aid and partnership programs.
In 1994, Timmermans left the ministry to work as Assistant toHans van den Broek, theEuropean Commissioner for External Relations at the time. A year later, he became Senior Advisor and Private Secretary toMax van der Stoel, then serving as the High Commissioner on National Minorities for theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a position he held until entering national politics in 1998.[9]
After the1998 Dutch general election, Timmermans was elected as a member of theHouse of Representatives for theLabour Party (PvdA).[8] He was re‑elected following the2002 and2003 general elections, serving in the House until 2007. During his tenure, Timmermans held several committee leadership roles. From 2001 to 2002, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He subsequently chaired the Committee on Economic Affairs from 2002 to 2003, after which he resumed his position as Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a post he held until 2007.
In addition to his domestic parliamentary work, Timmermans represented the House of Representatives in theConvention on the Future of Europe from March 2002 to July 2003, contributing to the drafting of the proposedTreaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.[10] He was also a member of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1998 to 2007.
After theDutch general election of 2006 theLabour Party,Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and theChristianUnion (CU) formed a coalition agreement which resulted in theformation of theCabinet Balkenende IV. Timmermans becameUndersecretary forForeign Affairs and was responsible for the co-ordination of government policy towards theEuropean Union, and was conferred the diplomatic title of Minister of European Affairs during international visits. A major theme of his time asUndersecretary forEuropean Affairs was to increase support for European integration. This was done both by seeking greater influence of citizens on European policies and by improving communication and public perception; besides citizens the aim was that education should have also be more involved with Europe. TheTreaty of Lisbon was signed whilst he wasUndersecretary, before which Timmermans andPrime MinisterJan Peter Balkenende successfully lobbied to secure a greater role for national parliaments inEuropean Union decision-making processes. In February 2010,NATO officially requested the Netherlands to extend its military involvement inTask Force Uruzgan. TheLabour Party strongly opposed the extension of the mission and on 23 February 2010 theCabinet Balkenende IV fell after theLabour Party officially withdrew its support with allLabour Party Cabinet members resigning.
Following the withdrawal of theLabour Party from the coalition government, theCabinet Balkenende IV remained as aDemissionary Cabinet until theDutch general election of 2010. Following a coalition agreement between thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD),Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and theParty for Freedom (PVV), theLabour Party became the official opposition. Timmermans was returned to theHouse of Representatives, being installed on 17 June 2010. During his second term as aMember of the House of Representatives he served as Parliamentary Spokesman of theLabour Party for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs. Labour politicianRonald Plasterk accused Timmermans in 2016 of doing nothing for half a year in order to acquire this responsibility, which had initially been refused because of his previous office. He declined to comment.[11]
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After the fall of thefirst Rutte cabinet, the2012 Dutch general election resulted in theLabour Party and thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy negotiating a coalition agreement which led to the formation of thesecond Rutte cabinet and Timmermans being appointedMinister of Foreign Affairs, taking office on 5 November 2012.
On 24 and 25 March 2014 theNetherlands hosted the2014 Nuclear Security Summit, where Timmermans as Minister of Foreign Affairs was responsible for welcoming all attending representatives.
In May 2014, Timmermans condemnedGeert Wilders' anti-Islam sticker, saying that "The Netherlands cannot be held responsible for the adolescent behaviour of a single parliamentarian."[12] Timmermans said thatSaudi Arabia is "deeply offended by the sticker action."[13]
On 17 July 2014, passenger flightMalaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down overUkraine resulting in the deaths of 194Dutch citizens. The next day Timmermans flew toKyiv to meet withPresidentPetro Poroshenko andPrime MinisterArseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss the matter, following which, on 21 July 2014, Timmermans addressed theUnited Nations Security Council inNew York. Timmermans delivered an emotional speech which was widely praised by the international community. His speech called for Dutch Prime MinisterRutte and theInternational Community to help bring the victims home and start an investigation to make sure that those responsible are brought to justice. He states: "I call on the international community, on the Security Council, on anyone with influence on the situation on the ground: allow us to bring the victims’ remains home to their loved ones without any further delay. They deserve to be home." A statement in his speech about the careless way with which the local population was said to have treated the bodies of the victims appeared to be imprecise. Timmermans acknowledged this later on in a letter to the Dutch parliament.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]
In August 2014, Timmermans called for an independent investigation intoIsrael's actions during the2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.[23]
In a speech at theIsrael Council on Foreign Relations Timmermans explains the interconnectedness between Israel and Europe. These similarities, culture-wise and governmentally, mean that Europe holds Israel to a higher standard: namely, as a European country rather than a Middle Eastern country.[24] While this double standard could be perceived as antisemitic, Timmermans points out that "there is no way we can disentangle the destiny of Israel from the destiny of Europe". In pointing out this connection, Timmermans alludes to the responsibility that Europe has to maintain positive relations with Israel. While recognizing how young people in Europe are facing "rising disenchantment" to democracy, he calls on the European community to "help us find new, innovative ways of translating this inherent human necessity to be heard, to influence one's environment to be part of the decision making process". He believes the Netherlands should help fortify security guarantees for Israel, but cautions that Israel must be willing to give Palestinians full and equal rights in the West Bank and in Gaza.
In September 2014, theDutch Government nominated Frans Timmermans as its prospective member of theEuropean Commission under President-electJean-Claude Juncker. On 1 November 2014, Timmermans took office asFirst Vice President in Juncker's European Commission, and served as President Juncker's first deputy and right-hand man. Timmermans' portfolio comprised Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, Rule of Law andCharter of Fundamental Rights.[25]
In May 2016, Timmermans said thatErdoğan'sTurkey "has made impressive progress, particularly in recent weeks, on meeting the benchmarks of itsvisa liberalisation roadmap. There is still work to be done as a matter of urgency but if Turkey sustains the progress made, they can meet the remaining benchmarks."[26]
Timmermans repeatedly criticizedPoland'sjudiciary reform,[27] saying that "these laws considerably increase the systemic threats to the rule of law in Poland."[28] In April 2019, the commission had launched a new infringement proceedingsagainst Poland overindependence of judges. Timmermans said: "The new disciplinary regime undermines the judicial independence of Polish judges by not offering necessary guarantees to protect them from political control, as required by the Court of Justice of the European Union."[29]
Timmermans supported themandatory migrant quotas within the EU. He said that people coming to the EU "are fellow human beings who, I think, deserve to seek refuge when they flee the barbarism that thejihadists are inflicting upon them."[30]
In October 2018, Frans Timmermans announced his candidacy for the office ofPresident of the European Commission ahead of the2019 European election.In December 2018, during the Congress of Lisbon, theParty of European Socialists acclaimed him as its candidate. He was formally nominated as the PES Common Candidate in Madrid in February 2019. Timmermans said he intended to challenge the dominance of theEPP by building a left coalition in theEuropean Parliament.[31] His party finished second in the election behind the EPP, but after having discussed the parliamentary lead candidatesManfred Weber, Timmermans and occasionally alsoMargrethe Vestager of the three largest European parties in the parliament several times, theEuropean Council initially intended to nominate Timmermans for the office of commission president mostly because of Weber's alleged missing experience on the international stage. However, when governments from Eastern Europe protested this decision because of their strong opposition against Timmerman's fight on behalf of the commission for the rule of law and against reforms which are prospected to undermine it in these countries, the Council almost unanimously proposed German Defense MinisterUrsula von der Leyen as a compromise candidate in July 2019, a controversial decision among many members of the European Parliament, as she had neither been running for the office nor taken part in the European election, while such a process had informally been agreed as the gold standard since 2014. Therefore, the sole abstention with her nomination came from Germany themselves because part of the German coalition government did not accept such a move. Yet, von der Leyen was subsequently elected with a narrow majority by the European Parliament, promised to argue for a better implementation and formalisation of the desired parliamentary process in the future and announced that lead candidates Timmermans and Vestager would become vice-presidents in her commission.[32]
In 2019,President of the European Commission,Ursula von der Leyen requested Frans Timmermans continue in his role as First Vice President while also designating him as one of the three newExecutive Vice Presidents of the European Commission. As Executive Vice President,[33] Timmermans was responsible for theEuropean Green Deal.[34] Timmermans was also responsible for a European Green Deal and a European Climate Law[35] in their first hundred days in office.[33]
On 30 March 2021, Timmermans said in a tweet after talking to Swedish environmental activistGreta Thunberg that "The Commission remains committed" to making theCommon Agricultural Policy "fulfill the objectives" of theEuropean Green Deal.[36]
In October 2021, Timmermans suggested "the best answer" to the2021 global energy crisis is "to reduce our reliance onfossil fuels." He said those blaming the European Green Deal were doing so "for perhaps ideological reasons or sometimes economic reasons in protecting their vested interests."[37]Euractiv reported that Timmermans told the European Parliament in Strasbourg "that “about one fifth” of the energy price increase can be attributed to rising CO2 prices on the EU'scarbon market."[38]
In July 2023 China and the European Union held the Fourth EU-China High Level Environment and Climate Dialogue. The European delegation to China was led by Frans Timmermans. Both sides declared they will continue to cooperate in stoppingclimate change,biodiversity loss andpollution. Both sides agreed to ensure the success ofCOP28, implement theKunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, advance theHigh Seas Treaty, cooperate inwater policy, reach a global agreement onplastic pollution by 2024. Both sides also agreed to supportcircular economy.[39]
In July 2023, asnap election was called in the Netherlands after the collapse of thefourth Rutte cabinet.[40] After members of theLabour Party andGroenLinks voted to contest the election on a joint list, Timmermans declared his intention to becomelead candidate (lijsttrekker) for the alliance and to succeedMark Rutte asPrime Minister of the Netherlands.[41][42] His candidacy was met with widespread approval from both parties, including Labour Party leaderAttje Kuiken and GroenLinks leaderJesse Klaver.[43] On 22 August 2023, during a jointGroenLinks–PvdA party meeting, Timmermans was confirmed as lead candidate with 92 percent of the vote.[44] He resigned from the European Commission on the same day, and was replaced in his role as Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal by fellow vice presidentMaroš Šefčovič.[45]
The2023 Dutch general election was held on 22 November 2023, and GL–PvdA ultimately finished in second place, with 25 seats, behindGeert Wilders'anti-immigrationParty for Freedom (PVV).[46] Timmermans ruled out working with the PVV, remarking that "we will never form acoalition with parties that pretend thatasylum seekers are the source of all misery".[47] He was sworn into the House of Representatives on 6 December, and he has been serving as theparliamentary leader of GL–PvdA since.[48] Along withMirjam Bikker of theChristian Union, Timmermans carried forward a bill to impose harsher penalties in cases ofhate crimes, including acts of violence or insults motivated by discrimination. It was passed by an overwhelming majority of the House in December 2024.[49][50]
After the fall of theSchoof cabinet, Timmermans was elected on 20 June 2025 to lead another joint GL–PvdA list for thesnap elections in October 2025. He was the only candidate for the position and received 78.7% of the votes by members of the parties.[51] After an exit poll projected that GL–PvdA would lose five seats compared to the 2023 election,[52] Timmermans announced his resignation as party leader.[53]
Timmermans has married twice, having two children in his first marriage, a daughter (born 1986) and a son (born 1989). Timmermans remarried in 2000 to Irene Timmermans; he and his second wife have a son (born 2004) and a daughter (born 2006). After returning from Brussels in 2023, he moved back to his birthplace ofMaastricht. He is a fan ofAS Roma.[54] Timmermans has talked about his struggle withmorbid obesity in interviews. He said that he had his weight under control until around 2015, after which he was no longer able to control his eating behaviour. His condition remained manageable under the assistance of medical specialists and medicine, but it deteriorated following his 2023 move back to the Netherlands. In October 2024, he underwentgastric bypass surgery.[2][55]
In 2021, he appeared on theTime 100,Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world[56] and was named one of the 28 most influential people in Europe (in the "Doers" category) byPolitico Europe.[57]
Aside from his nativeDutch andLimburgish, Timmermans is fluent inEnglish,French,German,Italian andRussian.[58][59][60]
| Year | Body | Party | Pos. | Votes | Result | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party seats | Individual | |||||||
| 1998 | House of Representatives | Labour Party | 18 | 7,561 | 45 | Won | [67] | |
| 2002 | House of Representatives | Labour Party | 19 | 4,780 | 23 | Won | [68] | |
| 2003 | House of Representatives | Labour Party | 19 | 7,786 | 42 | Won | [69] | |
| 2006 | House of Representatives | Labour Party | 11 | 6,599 | 33 | Won | [70] | |
| 2010 | House of Representatives | Labour Party | 9 | 8,684 | 30 | Won | [71] | |
| 2012 | House of Representatives | Labour Party | 8 | 15,150 | 38 | Won | [72] | |
| 2019 | European Parliament | Labour Party | 1 | 839,240 | 6 | Won | [73] | |
| 2023 | House of Representatives | GroenLinks–PvdA | 1 | 760,521 | 25 | Won | [74] | |
| 2025 | House of Representatives | GroenLinks–PvdA | 1 | 519,850 | 20 | Won[b] | [75] | |
Media related toFrans Timmermans at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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