On Thursday, 26 October 2023, the College of Europe in Natolin hosted a guest High-level Talk titled Serving the Common Good: Consensus Building in the Future EU, by Mr Herman VAN ROMPUY, President Emeritus of the European Council (2009-2014).
About the Speaker:
Elected as the first full-time President of the European Council in November 2009, Herman VAN ROMPUY took office when the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009. In 2012, he was re-elected for a second (and last) term starting on 1 June 2012 and running until 30 November 2014.
At the time of his first election, Herman VAN ROMPUY was Prime Minister of Belgium. Prior to that, he had served in Belgium as Speaker of the House of Representatives (2007-2008) and in several government positions, including as Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Budget (1993-1999). His was Minister of State (2004) and Secretary of State for Finance and Small Businesses (1988).
A former economist at the National Bank of Belgium, Herman VAN ROMPUY began his political career in 1973 as national Vice-President of his party’s youth movement. He was president of the Flemish Christian Democrats (1988-1993). He served in the Belgian Parliament, in turn as a Senator (1988-1995) and Member of Parliament (1995-2009).