SPEAKER: Wim Kok
Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Prime Minister of The Netherlands 1994-2002


After completing his secondary education, he attended Nijenrode Business School. He then did his military service and worked for a trading company for a short time.

In 1961, Mr Kok was appointed assistant international officer of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (Construction Sector). He was appointed staff member for economic affairs of the same union in 1965 and, in 1967, union secretary.

In 1969, Mr Kok was appointed secretary to the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (NVV), and deputy chairman in 1972. He was chairman of the NVV from 1973 to 1985 and, after the NVV had merged with the Dutch Federation of Catholic Trade Unions, chairman of the Federation of Netherlands Trade Unions (FNV). From 1979 to 1982, Mr Kok also served as chairman of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Mr Kok has been deputy chairman of the Socio-economic Council (SER), employees' chairman on the Joint Industrial Labour Council and vice-chairman of the Board of De Nederlandsche Bank.

From 1986 to 1989 Mr Kok was a member of the Lower House of the States General and leader of the parliamentary Labour Party (PvdA).

Mr Kok was Minister of Finance and deputy Prime Minister in the third Lubbers government from 7 November 1989 to 22 August 1994.

From 22 August 1994 he was Prime Minister and Minister for General Affairs, in the first government that bore his name until 3 August 1998, and in the second Kok government until
22 July 2002.

After his withdrawal as Prime Minister, Mr Kok accepted a number of functions in supervisory boards (see enclosure).

From November 2002 until April 2003, he advised the European Commission on the consequences of the enlargement of the European Union with ten new members in 2004.

From April till November 2003, he was chairman of the European Employment Taskforce, established by the European Council in March 2003. The final report was presented on November 26 2003.

From May till November 2004, he was chairman of the High Level Group on the Lisbon Strategy. The High Level Group had been asked by the European Commission and European Council to carry out an independent analysis of European growth and employment. The Group presented its report on November 3rd, 2004.

On April 11th 2003 Mr. Kok was appointed minister of State.

On September 2nd 2003 Mr Kok received an honorary degree at the Nyenrode University, Breukelen, The Netherlands.

On December 10th 2003 Mr Kok received an honorary degree at the Westfälische Wilhelms Universität, Münster, Germany.

On June 19th 2005 Mr Kok received the Global Economy Prize from the Institut für Weltwirtschaft at the Kiel University.

At present, Wim Kok holds the following positions:

Member of the Supervisory Board of ING Group (international financial services)

Member of the Supervisory Board of Royal Dutch/Shell (oil company)

Member of the Supervisory Board of TNT (international postal company with Dutch origin)

Member of the Supervisory Board of KLM (airline)

Member of the Strategic Advisory Panel of The European Business Awards
Mr Kok is an engaging speaker with a strong political background and great insight into future issues affecting European and global financial markets.