Frits Bolkestein

Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfreːdərɪk frɪdz ˈbɔlkəstɛi̯n] (listen);[1] born 4 April 1933) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessperson who served as European Commissioner from 16 September 1999 until 22 November 2004.

Frits Bolkestein
Frits Bolkestein in 2007
European Commissioner ^[Portfolios]
In office 16 September 1999 – 22 November 2004
President	Romano Prodi
Preceded by	Mario Monti as European Commissioner for Internal Market
Succeeded by	Charlie McCreevy as European Commissioner for Internal Market
President of the Liberal International
In office 15 April 1996 – 18 April 2000
Preceded by	Sir David Steel
Succeeded by	Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck
Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998
Deputy	See list Loek Hermans (1990) Hans Dijkstal (1990–1998) Benk Korthals (1994–1998) Annemarie Jorritsma (1998) Gerrit Zalm (1998)
Preceded by	Joris Voorhoeve
Succeeded by	Hans Dijkstal
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998
Preceded by	Joris Voorhoeve
Succeeded by	Hans Dijkstal
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Minister of Defence
In office 24 September 1988 – 7 November 1989
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Piet Bukman (Ad interim)
Succeeded by	Relus ter Beek
State Secretary for Economic Affairs
In office 5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986 Serving with Piet van Zeil
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Wim Dik
Succeeded by	Enneüs Heerma
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 14 September 1989 – 21 September 1999
In office 3 June 1986 – 24 September 1988
In office 16 January 1978 – 5 November 1982
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Personal details
Born	Frederik Bolkestein 4 April 1933 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1975)
Spouse(s)	First wife ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 1985)​ Femke Boersma ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	2 sons (1 deceased, 2009) and 1 daughter (first marriage) 1 step-daughter (second marriage)
Relatives	Gerrit Bolkestein (grand-father)
Residence	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Alma mater	Oregon State University (B.Math) University of Amsterdam (MMath, MPhil, MA) London School of Economics (M.Econ) Leiden University (LL.M)
Occupation	Politician · Businessperson · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Author · Playwright · Screenwriter · Political pundit · Lobbyist · Historian · Professor
Website	(in Dutch) Official site

Bolkestein studied Mathematics at the Oregon State University getting a Bachelor of Mathematics degree and continued his study at the University of Amsterdam obtaining a Master of Mathematics degree followed by a postgraduate education in Philosophy and Greek literature at his alma mater obtaining Masters of Philosophy and Arts degrees, followed by another postgraduate study in Economics at the London School of Economics obtaining a Master of Economics degree and additional study in Law at the Leiden University obtaining a Master of Laws degree. Bolkestein worked as a corporate director for Royal Dutch Shell from May 1960 until July 1976 and as a manager for an engineering company in Amsterdam from September 1976 until January 1978. Bolkestein became a Member of the House of Representatives shortly after election of 1977 taking office on 16 January 1978 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Economic Affairs. After the election of 1982 Bolkestein was appointed as State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Cabinets Lubbers I taking office on 5 November 1982. After the election of 1986 Bolkestein was not offered a cabinet post in the new cabinet and returned to the House of Representatives on 3 June 1986 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International trade. Bolkestein was appointed as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Lubbers II following a cabinet reshuffle taking office on 24 September 1988. After the election of 1989 Bolkestein again returned as a Member of the House of Representatives on 14 September 1989. Shortly after the election Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Joris Voorhoeve announced he was stepping down and Bolkestein announced his candidacy to succeed and was selected as his successor on 30 April 1990.

For the election of 1994 Bolkestein served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a successful cabinet formation with Labour Leader Wim Kok and fellow Liberal Leader Hans van Mierlo formed the Cabinet Kok I with Bolkestein opting to remain as Parliamentary leader. Bolkestein also served as President of the Liberal International from 15 April 1996 until 18 April 2000. For the election of 1998 Bolkestein again served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) but shortly thereafter announced that he was stepping down on 30 July 1998 but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher. In August 1999 Bolkestein was nominated as the next European Commissioner in the Prodi Commission, and was giving the heavy portfolios of Internal Market and Services and Taxation and Customs serving from 16 September 1999 until 22 November 2004.

Bolkestein retired from active politics at 71 and became active in the public sector as a non-profit director, and worked as a distinguished professor of International relations and Governmental Studies at his alma mater of Leiden and the Delft University of Technology from November 2004 until November 2010. Following his retirement Bolkestein continued to be active as a advocate and lobbyist for more European integration and strengthening Transatlantic relations. Bolkestein is known for his abilities as a skillful debater and accomplished negotiator and as of 2021 continues to comment on political affairs as a statesman.

Early life and career

Frederik Bolkestein was born on 4 April 1933 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.[2] His father was president of the Court in Amsterdam.[3] His grandfather, Gerrit Bolkestein, was Minister of Education, Arts, and Sciences to the Dutch government-in-exile of 1939 to 1945.[4] Bolkestein's mother was born in the Dutch East Indies to Dutch parents.[5]

Bolkestein attended the Barlaeus Gymnasium in Amsterdam from 1945 to 1951, where he majored in both arts and sciences. Upon completing his gymnasium education, he was an undergraduate in mathematics at Oregon State College from 1951 to 1953. Subsequently, he went to the University of Amsterdam, where he received a BSc degree in mathematics and physics in 1955.[2] In 1959, he received a MA degree in philosophy and Greek from the same university.[2] Bolkestein subsequently received a BSc degree from The London School of Economics in 1963, and an LLM degree from Leiden University in 1965.[2]

During his studies in Amsterdam, Bolkestein was editor for the satirical student magazine Propria Cures. He was also a member of the board of the student union ASVA.[2]

Before entering Dutch politics, Bolkestein worked for the oil company Royal Dutch Shell from 1960 to 1975. During this period he was assigned to postings in East Africa, Honduras and El Salvador, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and France. In Paris, he served on the board of the Shell Chimie from 1973 to 1975. During his tenure with Shell, he completed the first part of the economics program at the London School of Economics in 1964 and he also completed a law degree at Leiden University, graduating in 1965.[2]

In 1976, Bolkestein wrote an English language play named Floris, Count of Holland, under the anagrammatic pseudonym of Niels Kobet.[6]

Politics

Member of the House of Representatives Frits Bolkestein during a debate on the 1980s oil glut in the House of Representatives on 26 June 1980.

Bolkestein left Shell in 1976 and became a member of parliament for the VVD. From 1982–1986, he served as Minister of International Trade. After joining the parliament again, he was Minister of Defence from 1988–1989. In 1990, he was elected Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy of the VVD, a position he held until 1998. Between 1978 and 1999, when he became European Commissioner, he was member of parliament for 17 years.

During the 1990s, he was very successful as the political frontman of the VVD. As an opinion leader, he was known for his daring and controversial positions on such issues as multicultural problems in Dutch society, political dualism between government and parliament, and the structure and expansion of the European Union. From 1990–1994 he was the parliamentary opposition leader and continued his outspoken and independent style when his party was part of the government from 1994. During the provincial elections of 1995, his criticism of Dutch immigration policies made his party the largest of the country.[7]

In 1996, his political integrity came under heavy criticism, because it was revealed he had written a letter to the Minister of Health Els Borst, in which he asked her to help a pharmaceutical company, of which Bolkestein was member of the board of commissioners. The incident was known as the "Dear Els"-incident, because the letter was addressed to Borst personally.

He was president of the Liberal International, the world federation of liberal political parties. Since Autumn 2004, he has been a professor at the Dutch universities of Leiden and Delft. Former Irish finance minister Charlie McCreevy succeeded him as Commissioner for the Internal Market.[8]

He authored a number of books on politics and related subjects. Frits Bolkestein is married to Femke Boersma, a retired Dutch actress. In 2005, his house in northern France had its electricity cut briefly by the local energy company after he criticized French protectionist measures against incoming electricians from Eastern Europe.

Also, he is on the advisory board of OMFIF where he is regularly involved in meetings regarding the financial and monetary system.

Bolkestein Directive

Named after Frits Bolkestein, the Directive on services in the internal market aims at enabling a company from a given member-state to recruit workers in other European Union countries using the law of its home country. It triggered huge protests in Europe. This directive was voted in the European Parliament in March 2006 and the MEPs proposed amendments to the provisional text. The "principle of origin", which stipulates that workers are employed under the legal arrangements of their own state of residence, was replaced by a new "freedom" principle – freedom to provide services, meaning that administrative obstacles should be removed. The compromise allowed the draft Directive to continue to exist. However, there was a great deal of concern about its effect on social standards and welfare, triggering competition between various parts of Europe. This led to significant protests across Europe against the directive including a notable protest at the European Parliament in Strasbourg by port workers which led to damage to the building. MEPs eventually reached a compromise on the text and the Parliament adopted it on 12 December 2006; 2 years after Bolkestein left office, under the Barroso Commission.

Controversies

In 2001, Bolkestein responded to the question raised by European MPs (MEP) Harlem Désir, Glyn Ford and Francis Wurtz, who asked the Commission to investigate the accusations brought forward by Révélation$, a book written by investigative journalist Denis Robert and former Clearstream member Ernest Backes, and to ensure that the 10 June 1990 directive (91/308 CE) on control of financial establishment be applied in all member states in an effective way. Commissioner Frits Bolkestein applied that "the Commission has no reason to date to believe that the Luxembourg authorities do not apply it vigorously" [sic]. The three MPs henceforth published a press statement asking the opening of an investigation by the European Union about the correct application of 10 June 1990 directive.[9][10]

On 26 April 2006, French daily 20 minutes revealed that "in May 2005, MEP Paul van Buitenen was shocked by Frits Bolkestein's presence in Bank Menatep's international consultative council (owned by Russian magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky), a sulfurous Russian banking establishment, and by his work for Shell, British-Dutch petrol company. Two firms 'detaining secret accounts in Clearstream' ... Van Buitenen, also Dutch, then asked for 'clarification' to the European Commission and the opening of a parliamentary investigation. The Commission's president, José Manuel Barroso, answered that these facts "don't bring up any new question" and that it is not known "if Menatep took contact with Bolkestein while he was in his functions". No investigation thereby took place." The free daily underlines that "in 2001, it was Bolkestein himself that announced the Commission's refusal to open up a parliamentary investigation on Clearstream", following MEP Harlem Désir's requests and accusations that Menatep had an "undeclared account" at Clearstream. Bolkestein refused to answer any questions by the newspaper.[11]

On 18 May 2010, Bolkestein advocated for the legalization of all drugs in an article called; "Red het land, sta drugs toe" which translates to; "save the nation, allow drugs" in the NRC Handelsblad, a Dutch newspaper. The article is endorsed by many professionals ranging from Els Borst, former Dutch minister of public health, to many jurists, professors and drug experts.

In Het Verval ("The Decline"), a book about Jews in the Netherlands written by Manfred Gerstenfeld, a Holocaust survivor and senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Bolkestein is quoted as having said that practicing Jews had no future in the Netherlands, due to antisemitism among Turkish and particularly Moroccan immigrants, and that they should emigrate to the United States or Israel. Bolkestein's remarks, after having been published in a Dutch newspaper,[12] raised a storm of criticism in December 2010. According to Ronny Naftaniel, head of the Jewish organisation CIDI, this was not the first time Bolkestein has expressed this view.[13]

Published books

• (1976) Floris, Count of Holland as Niels Kobet[6]
• (1982) Modern Liberalism[6]
• (1990) De Engel en het Beest[6]
• (1992) Woorden hebben hun betekenis[6]
• (1994) Islam en Democratie with Mohammed Arkoun[6]
• (1995) Het Heft in Handen[6]
• (1997) Moslim in de Polder[6]
• (1998) Boren in hard Hout[6]
• (1998) Onverwerkt Verleden[6]
• (2004) De Grenzen van Europa[6]
• (2005) Grensverkenningen[6]
• (2006) De twee lampen van de staatsman[6]
• (2006) Peut-on réformer la France?[6]
• (2008) Overmoed en onverstand
• (2009) De politiek der dingen
• (2011) De goede vreemdeling
• (2011) De intellectuele verleiding (The Intellectual Temptation)
• (2013) Cassandra tegen wil en dank
• (2015) De succesvolle mislukking van Europa, co-edited with Paul Cliteur and Meindert Fennema

References

1. Frits in isolation: [frɪts]
2. "Prof.Mr.Drs. F. Bolkestein". Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch). Leiden University. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
3. "Biografie: Frits Bolkestein" (in Dutch). Nova. 25 September 2003. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
4. "G. Bolkestein". Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch). Leiden University. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
5. Dutch: De Groene Amsterdammer: De politieke roots van Geert Wilders
6. Bolkestein, Frits. "List of published books". Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2008.
7. Provinciale Staten 8 maart 1995 at www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl
8. IT has key economic role, says new EC president Computer Weekly16 August 2004
9. (in French) Harlem Désir's official website Archived 3 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine (European MPs Harlem Désir, Glyn Ford and Francis Wurtz press statement about the $1.5 trillion math error & Denis Robert and Ernest Backes' book "Revelation$" and a 9 May 2001 op-ed in Le Monde titled "Les 'boîtes noires' de la mondialisation financière" ("The black box of financial globalization") by Bernard Bertossa, attorney general in Geneva, Benoît Dejemeppe, king's attorney in Brussels (procureur du roi, procureur des konings), Eva Joly, investigative magistrate in Paris, Jean de Maillard, magistrate in Blois and Renaud van Ruymbeke, judge in Paris)
10. (in English and French) "André Lussi, CEO of Clearstream, stepping down – interview of Denis Robert" (PDF). Tobin tax. June 2001.
11. "Révélation 20 Minutes: Quand la Commission européenne refusait d'enquêter sur Clearstream" (in French). 20 minutes. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2006.
12. Peter Wierenga (5 December 2010). "Bolkestein: 'Joden, emigreer!'" (in Dutch). De Pers. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
13. Cnaan Liphshiz (7 December 2010). "Top Dutch politician: Jews should emigrate to Israel or U.S." Haaretz. Retrieved 9 December 2010.

External links

• Official website
• Frits Bolkestein at the European Commission
• Frits Bolkestein at Leiden University

^{European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services and Taxation and Customs}