Michel Hansenne

Michel Hansenne
Member of the European parliament
for Belgium
In office
July 20, 1999 – July 19, 2004
Director-General of the International Labour Organization
In office
1989–1999
Preceded byFrancis Blanchard
Succeeded byJuan Somavía
Minister of Civil Service in Parliament of Belgium
In office
May 1988 – March 1989
Minister of Employment and Labour in Parliament of Belgium
In office
December 1981 – May 1988
Minister of French Culture in Parliament of Belgium
In office
April 1979 – December 1981
Member of the Parliament of Belgium
In office
1974 – March 1989
Personal details
Born (1940-03-23) March 23, 1940 (age 84)
Belgium

Michel Hansenne ((1940-03-23)March 23, 1940 in Belgium). He studied law and became a labour activist turned Belgium politician. In 1989 he was the first Director-General of the International Labour Organization since the end of the cold war. As Director-General, he was preceded by Francis Blanchard and succeeded by Juan Somavía. In 1999 he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium a post he held till 2004.

Early life[edit]

Michel Hansenne was born on March 23, 1940. At the age of 23, Hansenne obtained a Doctor of Law, subsequently gaining a degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Liège. In 1962, Hansenne began working at the University of Liège as a researcher before beginning his career in politics in 1972.

Belgium politics[edit]

In 1974, he became a member of the Parliament of Belgium, becoming Minister for French Culture from 1979–1981, Minister for Employment and Labour from 1981–1988 and Minister for Civil Service from 1988–1989.[1]

ILO and MEP[edit]

In 1989, Hansenne was elected the first post-Cold War Director-General of the International Labour Organization.[1] Four years later, in 1993, Hansenne was elected for a second term. In 1997, during his time as Director-General of the ILO, Hansenne called for the certification of countries which adhere to his organisation's labour standards.[2] In 1999, he was elected a Member of the European Parliament representing Belgium, the same year publishing a book, Un garde-fou pour la mondialisation. Le BIT dans l'après-guerre froide. Hansenne's European Parliamentary career was as a member of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats).[1]

Whilst a Member of the European Parliament, Hansenne served on the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy and the Delegation for relations with Japan, serving as a substitute on the Committee on Constitutional Affairs and Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism.[3]

Works published[edit]

In 1999 he wrote and published the book about the history of the ILO and how he navigated the changing times:

  • Hansenne, Michel (1999). Un garde-fou pour la mondialisation: le BIT dans l'après-guerre froide (in French) (1999 ed.). Quorum. ISBN 2-88182-366-1.- Total pages: 151

References[edit]

Positions in intergovernmental organisations
Preceded by Director-General of the International Labour Organization
1989-1999
Succeeded by