The Viscount De Clercq | |
|---|---|
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| European Commissioner for External Relations and Trade | |
| 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 | 8 July 1927 Ghent, Belgium |
| Died | 28 October 2011 (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) was a Belgian liberal politician.
De Clercq was born in Ghent, son of Frans de Clercq.[1] After his law and notariat studies at the University of Ghent and a scholarship at Syracuse University (Syracuse, United States), De Clerq became a lawyer at the Court of appeal in Ghent and a professor at Ghent University and the Vrije 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 and Minister 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 party PVV. He served for a term as a member of the European Commission (1985–1989). Moreover, he became Minister of State in 1985. From 1989 to 2004, he was a member of the European Parliament.
In 2003, he created together with other prominent European personalities the Medbridge Strategy Center, whose goal is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and the Middle-East.[2]
He died on 28 October 2011.[3]
Honours
- Created viscount de Clercq by Royal Decree in 2006.
- Minister of State by Royal Decree.
- Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold.[4]
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown.[5]
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Oak Crown.[6]
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.[7]
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.[8]
- Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the White Rose of Finland.[9]
- Grand officer in the Legion of Honour.[10]
Varia
He was the father of jonkheer Yannick De Clercq[11] and grandfather of jonkheer Mathias De Clercq.
References
- ^ Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62
- ^ http://www.medbridge.org/showpage.php/en/1/2/page.html
- ^ Willy De Clercq dies at 84
- ^ http://www.ars-moriendi.be/de_clercq.htm
- ^ http://www.ars-moriendi.be/de_clercq.htm
- ^ http://www.ars-moriendi.be/de_clercq.htm
- ^ Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62
- ^ Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62
- ^ Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62
- ^ Etat présent de la noblesse belge 2015, p. 62
- ^ http://www.ugent.be/nl/univgent/organisatie/regeringscommissaris/cv.htm
Sources
- W. Prevenier, C. Ysebaert, L. Pareyn (Ed.), Vijftig jaar liberale praxis. Willy De Clercq vijfenzeventig jaar, 2002.
- T. Goorden, Willy De Clercq, een biografie, Lannoo, 2004, ISBN 90-209-5750-3
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by André Vlerick | Minister of Finance 1973–1977 | Succeeded by Gaston Geens |
| Preceded by Robert Vandeputte | Minister of Finance 1981–1985 | Succeeded by Frans Grootjans |
| Preceded by Étienne Davignon | Belgian European Commissioner 1985–1989 | Succeeded by Karel Van Miert |
| Preceded by Wilhelm Haferkamp as European Commissioner for External Relations, Nuclear Affairs and Trade | European Commissioner for External Relations and Trade 1985–1989 | Succeeded by Frans Andriessen |