Herman Van Rompuy – Keynote Speaker

Herman Van Rompuy was the first President of the European Council of Heads of State and Government. In December 2009, upon the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, he was appointed as permanent president of the European Council. In 2012, he was re-elected for a second term, which ended in November 2014.

For five years Van Rompuy was at the helm of world politics. He committed himself to the stability of the Euro, has been involved in various conflicts and was tasked with getting heads of state in line with Europe.

After working as an economist at the National Bank of Belgium, he began his political career in 1973 as vice-chairman of the CVP youth. From 1978 he was a member of CVP (now CD & V). Between 1988 and 1993 he had various positions within his party and the Belgian parliament, including party chairman and co-opted senator.

In 1993 Van Rompuy joined national politics and held various positions. He was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Budget (1993-99), Member of the House of Representatives (1999-2008), Minister of State (2004), President of the House of Representatives (2007-08) and Prime Minister of Belgium (2008-09).

In June 2015 he was appointed as new chairman of the think tank European Policy Center.