Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfreË dÉ™rɪk
frɪdz ˈbÉ"lkÉ™stÉ›i̯n] (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.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 for 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.
frɪdz ˈbÉ"lkÉ™stÉ›i̯n] (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.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 for 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.
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