Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Tasks and powers

Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, responsible for:

• the Economy
• Employment
• Scientific Research
• Foreign Trade

Minister, Member of the College of the French Community Commission (COCOF), responsible for the Civil Service, Health Policy, and Vocational Training for Small Firms and Traders

Member of the Combined College of the Common Community Commission (COCOM), responsible for Health Policy and the Civil Service

Political career

• Communal Councillor (since 1982) in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
• Deputy Burgmaster for Employment, Personnel, IT, Twinning and Religious Faiths (1989 to 2000)
• Deputy Burgmaster (indisposed) (December 2006 - )
• Deputy in the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region (since 1999)
• President of the cdH parliamentary group (1999-2004)
• Brussels Minister for the Economy, Employment, Scientific Research, Fire-fighting and Emergency Medical Assistance, as well as Agricultural Policy (19/7/2004 -15/7/2009)
• President of the College of the Cocof (French Community Commission), responsible for Health Policy, the Civil Service (19/7/2004 - 15/7/2009)
• Minister for the Economy, Employment, Scientific Research and Foreign Trade (since 16/7/2009)
• Member of the College of Cocof responsible for Health, the Civil Service and Training for Small Firms and Traders (since 16/7/2009)
• Elected federal deputy on 10 June 2007
• Deputy indisposed on account of his ministerial appointment (10 June 2007 - June 2009)

Professional career

• Lawyer, specialising in commercial law
• Parnasse Institute of Higher Education - Deux Alice -Member of Pouvoir Organisateur
• non-profit organisation Créemploi (Woluwe-Saint-Pierre) - Administrator

Studies

• Candidature in Law at St Louis University Faculties
• Law degree from Louvain Catholic University