Henning Christophersen

Summary

Henning Christophersen (8 November 1939 – 31 December 2016) was a Danish politician, who served as Vice President of the European Commission (1985–1995), leader of the Danish liberal party Venstre (1978–1984) and a member of the European Convention.[1] Christophersen was one of the early architects of the Single Market and the Euro.

Henning Christophersen
Vice President of the European Commission for Economic & Financial Affairs
In office
6 January 1989 – 22 January 1995
PresidentJacques Delors
Preceded byFrançois-Xavier Ortoli
Succeeded byYves-Thibault de Silguy
Vice President of the European Commission for Financial Programming & the Budget
In office
6 January 1985 – 5 January 1989
PresidentJacques Delors
Preceded byChristopher Tugendhat
Succeeded byPeter Schmidhuber
Minister of Finance
In office
10 September 1982 – 23 July 1984
Prime MinisterPoul Schlüter
Preceded byKnud Heinesen
Succeeded byPalle Simonsen
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
30 August 1978 – 26 October 1979
Prime MinisterAnker Jørgensen
Preceded byAnker Jørgensen
Succeeded byKjeld Olesen
Leader of Venstre
In office
September 1978 – 23 July 1984
Preceded byPoul Hartling
Succeeded byUffe Ellemann-Jensen
Member of the Folketing
In office
1971–1984
Personal details
Born(1939-11-08)8 November 1939
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died31 December 2016(2016-12-31) (aged 77)
Brussels, Belgium
Political partyVenstre
OccupationPolitician

Life edit

Christophersen was born in Copenhagen. He was Deputy Prime minister and Finance Minister of Denmark (1982–1984) and Foreign Minister of Denmark (1978–1979).

During his time as Vice President of the European Commission for Budget and later for Economic & Financial Affairs, Christophersen decisively contributed to the preparations of the launch of the Euro and of the Economic & Monetary Union. Through his pioneering work on Transeuropean Networks, he also played a big role in the realization of the Internal Market.

In 1992, as EU commissioner, Christophersen together with 10 Baltic Ministers of Foreign Affairs founded the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the EuroFaculty.[2]

He was the Chairman of the Energy Charter Conference 1998 until 2007.

He was Chairman and member of a number of Supervisory Boards of Directors, and a Partner of Kreab, Brussels.

Christophersen died on 31 December 2016 in Brussels at the age of 77 after a short illness.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Henning Christophersen Den Store Danske, Gyldendals åbne encyclopædi
  2. ^ Kristensen, Gustav N. 2010. Born into a Dream. EuroFaculty and the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Berliner Wissentshafts-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-8305-1769-6.
  3. ^ "Venstre-legenden Henning Christophersen er død" (in Danish). 1 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.

Sources edit

  • Tom Matz (2004), Venstre ved du hvor du har ForlagsKompagniet : Nørhaven Book.
Political offices
Preceded by Foreign Minister of Denmark
30 August 1978 – 26 October 1979
Succeeded by
Preceded by Finance Minister of Denmark
10 September 1982 – 23 July 1984
Succeeded by
Palle Simonsen
Preceded by
...
Vice-President of the European Commission
1985–1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs
1985–1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by Danish European Commissioner
1985–1995
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of Venstre
1977–1984
Succeeded by