Étienne Davignon
Encyclopedia
Étienne Francois Jacques Davignon, Viscount Davignon (born 4 October 1932 in Budapest
) is a Belgian
politician, businessman, and former vice-president of the European Commission
.
, Davignon joined the Belgian Foreign Ministry, in 1959, and within two years had become an attaché
under Paul-Henri Spaak
, then Minister of Foreign Affairs
. He remained in Belgian government until 1965. In 1970, he chaired the committee of experts which produced the Davignon report
on foreign policy for Europe.
Davignon later became the first head of the International Energy Agency
, from 1974 to 1977, before becoming a member of the European Commission, of which he was vice-president from 1981 till 1985. From 1989 to 2001, he was chairman of the Belgian bank Société Générale de Belgique
, which is now part of the French supplier Suez and was not an arm of the French bank Société Générale
, but a Belgian institution. He is now Vice Chairman of Suez subsidiary, Suez-Tractebel.
As chairman of Société Générale de Belgique, he was a member of the European Round Table of Industrialists
. He is the current co-chairman of the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Round Table, chairman of the Paul-Henri Spaak Foundation, president of the EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations, chairman of [CSR Europe], chairman of the European Academy of Business in Society
and current chairman of the annual Bilderberg conference
.
Davignon is the chairman of the board of directors of Brussels Airlines
, which he co-founded after the bankruptcy of Sabena
. He is also member of the board of numerous Belgian companies. He is also the chairman of the board of directors and of the General Assembly of the ICHEC Brussels Management School
.
On 26 January 2004, Davignon was given the honorary title of Minister of State, giving him a seat on the Crown Council.
In 2009, Davignon told newspaper EUobserver
that the Bilderberg Group had "helped create the euro in the 1990s".
He also is a crucial member of the Strategic Advisory Panel of The European Business Awards. He is a member of the Cercle Gaulois
and a member of the Advisory Board of the Itinera Institute
think-tank. He is also President of the Brussels
-based think-tank Friends of Europe
.
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Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
) is a Belgian
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...
politician, businessman, and former vice-president of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
Career
After receiving a Doctorate of Law from the Université catholique de LouvainUniversité catholique de Louvain
The Université catholique de Louvain, sometimes known, especially in Belgium, as UCL, is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It is located in Louvain-la-Neuve and in Brussels...
, Davignon joined the Belgian Foreign Ministry, in 1959, and within two years had become an attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
under Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul Henri Charles Spaak was a Belgian Socialist politician and statesman.-Early life:Paul-Henri Spaak was born on 25 January 1899 in Schaerbeek, Belgium, to a distinguished Belgian family. His grandfather, Paul Janson was an important member of the Liberal Party...
, then Minister of Foreign Affairs
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
-1800s:-1900s:-2000s:...
. He remained in Belgian government until 1965. In 1970, he chaired the committee of experts which produced the Davignon report
Davignon report
The Davignon report, published October 27, 1970, was a report on the future foreign policy of European Economic Community member nations. It was written by a council chaired by Étienne Davignon of the Belgian Foreign Office. The committee was appointed by the Council of the European Communities to...
on foreign policy for Europe.
Davignon later became the first head of the International Energy Agency
International Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
, from 1974 to 1977, before becoming a member of the European Commission, of which he was vice-president from 1981 till 1985. From 1989 to 2001, he was chairman of the Belgian bank Société Générale de Belgique
Société Générale de Belgique
The Société Générale de Belgique was one of the largest companies that ever existed in Belgium. It was founded in 1822 by William I, and existed until 2003, when its then sole shareholder, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, merged it with Tractebel to form Suez-Tractebel.-History:As part of the terms of the...
, which is now part of the French supplier Suez and was not an arm of the French bank Société Générale
Société Générale
Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...
, but a Belgian institution. He is now Vice Chairman of Suez subsidiary, Suez-Tractebel.
As chairman of Société Générale de Belgique, he was a member of the European Round Table of Industrialists
European Round Table of Industrialists
The European Round Table of Industrialists was born out of a growing preoccupation with thestate of the European economy in the early 1980s. Frequently diagnosed as “eurosclerosis”, the...
. He is the current co-chairman of the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Round Table, chairman of the Paul-Henri Spaak Foundation, president of the EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations, chairman of [CSR Europe], chairman of the European Academy of Business in Society
EABIS
The Academy of Business in Society is an alliance of companies, business schools and other institutions committed to promoting more sustainable business practice through partnership, learning and research...
and current chairman of the annual Bilderberg conference
Bilderberg Group
The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an annual, unofficial, invitation-only conference of approximately 120 to 140 guests from North America and Western Europe, most of whom are people of influence. About one-third are from government and politics, and two-thirds from...
.
Davignon is the chairman of the board of directors of Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is a flag carrier airline headquartered in the b.house on the grounds of Brussels Airport and in Diegem, Machelen, Belgium and a subsidiary of Lufthansa. It is the largest airline based in Belgium, operating to over 65 destinations in 20 European countries as well as long-haul...
, which he co-founded after the bankruptcy of Sabena
Sabena
SABENA was the national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001, with its base at Brussels National Airport. After its bankruptcy in 2001, the newly formed SN Brussels Airlines took over part of SABENA's assets in February 2002, which then became Brussels Airlines...
. He is also member of the board of numerous Belgian companies. He is also the chairman of the board of directors and of the General Assembly of the ICHEC Brussels Management School
ICHEC Brussels Management School
The ICHEC Brussels Management School . The college offers education in commercial and financial sciences.-University level Education:General organisation of studiesThe education given at ICHEC has a dual purpose...
.
On 26 January 2004, Davignon was given the honorary title of Minister of State, giving him a seat on the Crown Council.
In 2009, Davignon told newspaper EUobserver
EUobserver
EUobserver.com is an independent online newspaper covering the politics of the European Union .It focuses on human rights, civil liberties, transparency, anti-corruption, digital rights, critical environmentalism and the democratisation of the European Union...
that the Bilderberg Group had "helped create the euro in the 1990s".
He also is a crucial member of the Strategic Advisory Panel of The European Business Awards. He is a member of the Cercle Gaulois
Cercle Gaulois
The Cercle Gaulois or Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire is a Belgian club. The club has the aim of constituting a friendly, intellectual, artistic and literary, meeting place, free of any political, cultural or philosophical tendency...
and a member of the Advisory Board of the Itinera Institute
Itinera Institute
The Itinera Institute is a Brussels-based independent think-tank that undertakes research that “identifies and promotes roads for policy reform towards sustained economic growth and social protection, for Belgium and its regions.” It was founded in 2006 by Professor Marc De Vos.-Scholars:As of mid...
think-tank. He is also President of the Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
-based think-tank Friends of Europe
Friends of Europe
Friends of Europe is a Brussels-based, not-for-profit think tank for European Union policy analysis and debate.-History:The organisation, established in 1999, has no political or national allegiance and is independent of the EU institutions...
.
Family
Étienne's grandfather, Julien Davignon, also served in the government of Belgium, being Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1914, at the outbreak of World War I.External links
- Curriculum vitae at Corporate Europe Observatory
- BBC interview
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