Didier Reynders (; born 6 August 1958) is a Belgian politician of the Reformist Movement (MR) who served as European Commissioner for Justice in the first Von der Leyen Commission from 2019 to 2024. He held various positions in public institutions before becoming a member of the House in 1992. Until his appointment to the European Commission, Reynders had been a minister continuously since 1999.
He served as Federal Minister of Finance until December 2011 in six different governments, then became Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, later for Trade, Foreign Affairs, and European Affairs in two consecutive governments. Following the government crisis of December 2018, he was also appointed to the post of Minister of Defense which he held until November 2019.
Early life and education
Reynders was born in Liège as the youngest in a family with three children. He studied law at the University of Liège.
Early career
Didier Reynders began his career as a lawyer in 1981 before serving as Chairman of the National Railway Company of Belgium from 1986 to 1991.
Political career
Minister of Finance (1999–2011)
Reynders served as Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2011; in 2002, he chaired the G-10 which is the meeting of the main creditor states (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States).
[ HEC Europe Symposium: Didier Reynders HEC Europe Institute, Paris.]
In 2004 Reynders became Deputy Prime Minister in the government of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. He was the chairman of the Mouvement Réformateur from 2004 to 2011.
Didier Reynders led the MR to a victory in the 2007 general elections when the MR became the largest Francophone party of Belgium. The King appointed Reynders as informateur, i.e. to start off the informal coalition talks for a new federal government.
Stalemate followed the 2010 general election. The King appointed a succession of people to negotiate a coalition from June 2010 onwards, but none succeeded in the task of forming a new government during the following seven months. Reynders was appointed informateur by the King on 2 February 2011. He reported on 16 February 2011, and his brief was extended through 1 March 2011.
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011–2019)
Following the appointment of Elio Di Rupo as new Belgian Prime Minister in December 2011, Reynders became Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his tenure, Belgium was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2019–2020), as well as of the United Nations Human Rights Council (2016–2018).
Minister of Defence (2018–2019)
After the ruling coalition collapsed in 2019, Reynders also held responsibility for the defense portfolio.
[Simon Van Dorpe (24 August 2019), Belgium picks Foreign Minister Didier Reynders to be EU commissioner Politico Europe.] Following an inconclusive election in May 2019, King Philippe asked Reynders and Johan Vande Lanotte to look into the conditions required for forming a coalition government.
[Foo Yun Chee (30 May 2019), Belgian king appoints two advisers to find path toward coalition government Reuters.]
In 2019, Reynders announced his candidacy to succeed Thorbjørn Jagland as Secretary General of the Council of Europe;[ Election of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe: Candidatures received Council of Europe, press release of 11 January 2019.] the position instead went to Marija Pejčinović Burić.
European Commissioner for Justice (2019–2024)
In the summer of 2019, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel put Reynders forward as the Belgian nominee for the incoming European Commission. President-elect Ursula von der Leyen nominated him for the Justice portfolio. Reynders' hearing at the European Parliament was held in September 2019 and his nomination was approved by a large majority. He took office on 1 December 2019.
In 2020, Reynders announced plans to develop a legislative proposal by 2021 requiring businesses to carry out due diligence in relation to the potential human rights and environmental impacts of their operations and .[Norton Rose Fulbright, Proposal for an EU-wide mandatory human rights due diligence law, published May 2020, accessed 7 March 2021]
A 2022 report stated that Reynders was one of at least five senior EU officials targeted by Israeli spyware in 2021.
In September 2023, Reynders was temporarily assigned by von der Leyen the European Commission's competition portfolio following outgoing European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager’s announcement that she was officially a candidate for the presidency of the European Investment Bank.[GV De Clercq and Marie Mannes (5 September 2023), EU's Reynders says will take over commission's competition portfolio Reuters.]
In January 2024, Reynders again became the Belgian government's candidate for the position as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, this time competing with Alain Berset and Indrek Saar.[Barbara Moens and Clothilde Goujard (24 January 2024), Belgium’s Didier Reynders walks fine ethics line in top job campaign Politico Europe.] Berset won the vote by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25 June 2024 with 114 votes to 46 votes for Reynders and 85 for Saar.
In September 2024, the Belgian Government appointed Hadja Lahbib to succeed Reynders as the Belgian Commissioner in the European Commission, formally ending Reynders's tenure in the Von der Leyen's Commission.
Other activities
International organisations
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African Development Bank (AfDB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (1999–2011)
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Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (1999–2011)
[ 2005 Annual Report Asian Development Bank (ADB).]
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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (1999–2011)
[ 2005 Annual Report European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).]
Non-profit organisations
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European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Member
[ Members European Council on Foreign Relations.]
Controversies
Political activities
In 2015, Reynders drew criticism for having his face painted black during a traditional festival in Brussels.
[ Belgium's Reynders criticised for painting face black BBC News, 19 March 2015.]
In April 2017, Belgium voted in favour of the entry of Saudi Arabia, yet considered one of the most retrograde countries on the issue of women's rights, in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This decision raised controversy and questions about the role of Reynders.
Criminal investigation
In September 2019, Belgian police investigated allegations of corruption and money-laundering against Reynders, relating to the construction of the Belgian embassy building in
Kinshasa, the lease of a federal police HQ and other matters.
[Arthur Neslen (14 September 2019), Didier Reynders, Belgium’s Commission pick, under police investigation Politico Europe.] The investigation was dropped soon after.
[Simon van Dorpe (27 September 2019), Belgian prosecutors drop investigation into Didier Reynders Politico Europe.] In December 2024, another investigation was opened into "possible
money laundering practices" related to the .
Honours
National honours
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2014: Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold
[arrêtés royaux du 21 mai 2014]
Foreign honours
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2013: Commander in the Legion of Honour
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2014: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
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2016: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
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2016: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit
Notes
External links
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