The Viscount De Clercq | |
|---|---|
%2c_Bestanddeelnr_918-9461.jpg) De Clercq in 1966 | |
| European Commissioner forExternal Relations andTrade | |
| In office 7 January 1985 – 6 January 1989 | |
| President | Jacques Delors |
| Preceded by | Wilhelm Haferkamp(External Relations,Nuclear Affairs and Trade) |
| Succeeded by | Frans Andriessen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1927-07-08)8 July 1927 Ghent, Belgium |
| Died | 28 October 2011(2011-10-28) (aged 84) Ghent, Belgium |
| Political party | Party for Freedom and Progress |
| Alma mater | Ghent University Syracuse University |
Willy Clarisse Elvire Hector, Viscount De Clercq (8 July 1927 – 28 October 2011)[1] was aBelgian liberal politician.
De Clercq was born inGhent, son of Frans de Clercq.[2] After his law and notariat studies at theUniversity of Ghent and a scholarship atSyracuse University (Syracuse, United States), De Clerq became a lawyer at theCourt of appeal in Ghent and a professor atGhent University and theVrije Universiteit Brussel. Although he could have had a successful career in law, he got into politics. He was member of the Liberal youth and was elected municipal councillor and member of parliament.
De Clercq served in various coalition governments. He was secretary of state for the budget (1960–1961), deputy prime minister and minister of the budget from 1966 to 1968, deputy prime minister andMinister of Finance in 1973–1974, Minister of Finance in 1974–1977, and deputy prime minister in 1980.
De Clercq served as president of various international monetary instances and as president of the then liberal partyPVV. He served for a term as a member of theEuropean Commission (1985–1989). Moreover, he becameMinister of State in 1985. From 1989 to 2004, he was a member of theEuropean Parliament.
In 2003, he created together with other prominent European personalities theMedbridge Strategy Center, whose goal is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding betweenEurope and theMiddle-East.[3]
He died on 28 October 2011.[4]
He was the father ofjonkheerYannick De Clercq[6] and grandfather of jonkheerMathias De Clercq.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minister of Finance 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Finance 1981–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Belgian European Commissioner 1985–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded byas European Commissioner for External Relations,Nuclear Affairs and Trade | European Commissioner forExternal Relations andTrade 1985–1989 | Succeeded by |
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