Charles Goerens

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Charles Goerens
Member of the European Parliament
Assumed office
1 July 2009
ConstituencyLuxembourg
In office
1982–1984
In office
1994–1999
Personal details
Born (1952-02-06) 6 February 1952 (age 72)
Ettelbruck, Luxembourg
Political party Luxembourgish
Democratic Party
 EU
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Renew Europe

Charles Goerens (born 6 February 1952) is a Luxembourgish politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Luxembourg. He is a member of the Democratic Party (DP), part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.[1] He is the lead candidate for the DP for the 2024 European Elections.[2]

Early career[edit]

He studied agricultural science before he was first elected to the northern district constituency as a member of the Democratic Party in 1979. From 1989 until 1994 he was its chairman.[3]

Political career[edit]

Goerens was a member of the European Parliament from 1982 to 1984, from 1994 to 1999, and again from 2009 to present.[4]

He served as Minister for Cooperation, Humanitarian Action, and Defence in the government of Jean-Claude Juncker from 7 August 1999 until 31 July 2004.[3] He also briefly served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 20 July 2004 until 31 July 2004. He lost these posts when Juncker had to form a new coalition government after the 2004 parliamentary elections.

Since 2009, Goerens has been serving as a member of the Committee on Development and of the Subcommittee on Human Rights.

During the Brexit negotiations, Goerens had advocated for associate membership of the United Kingdom to the European Union.[5]

Following the 2019 European Parliament election, he also became a vice-chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.

In addition to his committee assignments, Goerens is a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights,[6] the MEPs Against Cancer group (since 2019).[7] and the Responsible Business Conduct Working Group.[8] He also co-chairs the cross-party Working Group on Fair Trade (sponsored by Fair Trade Advocacy).[9]

Other activities[edit]

  • Friends of the Global Fund, Vice-Chair of the Board
  • Fondation pour la construction de l'avenir du Luxembourg (FOCAL), Member of the Board


Since 1997 Charles Goerens has been organising educational trips to Auschwitz, as part of his efforts to fight against racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Charles Goerens". ALDE. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  2. ^ "Interview with MEP Charel Goerens: "2024 is the year of risks"". today.rtl.lu. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  3. ^ a b "Charles Goerens" (in French). Government of Luxembourg. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Your MEPs : Charles GOERENS". Europa. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Charles Goerens Shows Solidarity with UK and EU Citizens at Stop Brexit March". Chronicle.lu. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  6. ^ Members European Parliament Intergroup on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.
  7. ^ MAC MEPs in the 2019-24 legislature Archived 2020-02-02 at the Wayback Machine MEPs Against Cancer.
  8. ^ Members Responsible Business Conduct Working Group.
  9. ^ Fair Trade housewarming at the European Parliament Archived 2018-01-10 at the Wayback Machine Fair Trade Advocacy, press release of 8 October 2014.
  10. ^ Quotidien, Le. "Un voyage à Auschwitz pour ne jamais oublier" (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-02.

External links[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Cooperation, Humanitarian Action, and Defence
1999–2004
Succeeded by
Minister for the Environment
1999–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
2004
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by President of the DP
1989–1994
Succeeded by