Karl-Heinz Lambertz
Encyclopedia
Karl-Heinz Lambertz is a jurist
and politician, currently the leader (Minister-President
) of the Government of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. He is noted for voicing an outspoken demand for his community, numbering about 70,000 around Eupen
, to be separated from Wallonia and be recognised as a autonomous 4th region of Belgium
. He has been a member of the Committee of the Regions
(CoR) of the European Union, since 1999. He is particularly active in the Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) and the Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC). Since June 2011 he is the President of the PES Group within the CoR.
On 17 July 2008, he was one of three senior Belgian politicians commissioned by King Albert II
to investigate ways of enabling constitutional reform talks in the light of the long-running Belgian constitutional crisis
.
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and politician, currently the leader (Minister-President
Minister-President
A minister-president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments, in which a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government prevails, who presides over the council of ministers...
) of the Government of the German-speaking Community of Belgium. He is noted for voicing an outspoken demand for his community, numbering about 70,000 around Eupen
Eupen
Eupen is a municipality in the Belgian province of Liège, from the German border , from the Dutch border and from the "High Fens" nature reserve...
, to be separated from Wallonia and be recognised as a autonomous 4th region of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He has been a member of the Committee of the Regions
Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions is European Union's assembly of local and regional representatives that provides sub-national authorities with a direct voice within the EU's institutional framework....
(CoR) of the European Union, since 1999. He is particularly active in the Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) and the Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC). Since June 2011 he is the President of the PES Group within the CoR.
On 17 July 2008, he was one of three senior Belgian politicians commissioned by King Albert II
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
to investigate ways of enabling constitutional reform talks in the light of the long-running Belgian constitutional crisis
2007–2008 Belgian government formation
The 2007–2008 Belgian government formation followed the general election of 10 June 2007, and consisted of a period of negotiation in which the Flemish parties Flemish Liberal Democratic , Christian Democratic and Flemish and New Flemish Alliance , and the French-speaking parties Reformist...
.
Professional career
- 1976-1980: Assistant at the Law Faculty, Catholic University of Louvain (Université catholique de Louvain , UCL)
- 1980-1981: Advisor to the Minister for Institutional Reforms/ Deputy Director of AG AEROTECH
- 1981-1990: Advisor at the Wallon Region investment company SRIW (Société Régionale d'Investissement de Wallonie)
- 1988-2010: Lecturer at the Law Faculty, UCL (subject: German Legal Terminology)
Political career
- 1975-1980: President of the Council of the German-Speaking Youth (RDJ)
- 1975-1981: Member of the Committee for the Official German Translation of Laws and Decrees
- Since 1981: Member of the Council of the German-speaking Community
- 1981-1990: Chairman of the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Council of the German-speaking Community
- 1984-1990: President of the Socialist Party of the German-Language Area of Belgium
- Since 1986: Member of the Executive Committee of the Socialist PartySocialist Party (francophone Belgium)The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party...
- 1990-1995: German-Language Community Minister for Media, Adult Education, Invalids, Social Welfare and Vocational Training
- 1995-1997: Town Councilor in Eupen
- 1995-1999: Community Minister for Youth, Training, Media and Social Issues
- 1999-2004: Prime Minister (Minister-President) of the German-Language Community, & Minister for Invalids, Media and Sports
- Since 1999: Member of the Committee of the RegionsCommittee of the RegionsThe Committee of the Regions is European Union's assembly of local and regional representatives that provides sub-national authorities with a direct voice within the EU's institutional framework....
(CoR), Commission for Culture, Education an Research (EDUC) and Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS) - Since 2000: Member oft the Congress of the Council of Europe
- Since 2004: Prime Minister of the German-Language Community & Minister for Local Authorities
- Since 2006: General reporter of the Congress of Regional and Local Authorities on cross-border cooperation
- 2007-2010: Plenary Chair of the Working Group on Inter-Regional Co-operation at the CLRAE (CT/CIR)
- 2008-2010: Plenary Chair of the Committee on culture and education at the CLRAE
- Since 2010: Plenary Chair of the Governance Committee at the CLRAE
- Since 2009: Member of the Bureau of the CoR
- Since 2010: Head of the Belgian delegation at the CLRAE
- Since 2010: President of Association of European Border Regions (AEBR)
- Since 2011: President ad-interim of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions