Charles Goerens | |
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![]() Goerens in 2024 | |
Member of the European Parliament | |
Assumed office 1 July 2009 | |
Constituency | Luxembourg |
In office 1982–1984 | |
In office 1994–1999 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Ettelbruck,Luxembourg | 6 February 1952
Political party | ![]() Democratic Party ![]() 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 was the lead candidate and only elected MEP for the DP in the 2024 European Elections. [2] [3]
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. [4]
Goerens was a member of the European Parliament from 1982 to 1984,from 1994 to 1999,and again from 2009 to present. [5]
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. [4] 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. [6]
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, [7] the MEPs Against Cancer group (since 2019). [8] and the Responsible Business Conduct Working Group. [9] He also co-chairs the cross-party Working Group on Fair Trade (sponsored by Fair Trade Advocacy). [10]
Since 1997 Charles Goerens has been organising educational trips to Auschwitz,as part of his efforts to fight against racism,xenophobia,and antisemitism. [11]