The Coudenberg group ( nl, Coudenberggroep, french: Groupe Coudenberg) was a
Belgian
Belgian may refer to:
* Something of, or related to, Belgium
* Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent
* Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German
*Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...
federalist
The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''.
History Europe federation
In Europe, proponents of de ...
think-tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental or ...
, it was named after the place where the members met, the
Coudenberg
The Palace of Coudenberg (french: Palais du Coudenberg, nl, Coudenbergpaleis) was a royal residence situated on the Coudenberg or Koudenberg (; Dutch for "Cold Hill"), a small hill in what is today the Royal Quarter of Brussels, Belgium.
F ...
, one of the seven hillocks on which the centre of
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
has been built. President of the organization was the
lawyer
A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solici ...
Jean-Pierre De Bandt
Jean-Pierre, Baron de Bandt (born Antwerp, 23 January 1934) is a Belgian lawyer and former President of the Coudenberg group, a Belgian federalist think tank.
Education
From 1951 until 1953, he studied at the Facultés universitaires Notre-Da ...
.
Organisation
The Coudenberg group was established on 6 June 1984 as a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization and was dissolved on 11 February 1999. The think-tank united leading people from the
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which ...
,
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, administ ...
,
venture
Venture may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
*The Ventures, an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958
*"A Venture", 1971 song by the band Yes
*''Venture'', a 2010 EP by AJR
Games
* ''Venture'' (video game), a 1981 arcade g ...
s,
trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...
s and the
free professions.
The Coudenberg group presented itself as an ''independent think-tank which unites, on the basis of a linguistic and ideological
pluralism, people who understand that Belgium is itself on a cross point and who want to contribute to the political renewal of this country''. The Coudenberg group thought about issues concerning the organization of
federal
Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to:
Politics
General
*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies
*Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...
Belgium and published several studies about this topic. Its goal was to defend the federal state against the demands of
Flemish nationalists
The Flemish Movement ( nl, Vlaamse Beweging) is an umbrella term which encompasses various political groups in the Belgian region of Flanders and, less commonly, in French Flanders. Ideologically, it encompasses groups which have sought to promo ...
.
Members
Among the approximately 70 members were people such as
Antoine Bekaert,
André Belmans,
Philippe Bodson,
Bart De Schutter,
Jacques De Staercke
Baron Jacques De Staercke (19272017) was a Belgian businessman and politician. He was a member of the Coudenberg group
The Coudenberg group ( nl, Coudenberggroep, french: Groupe Coudenberg) was a Belgian federalist think-tank, it was named after ...
,
Hubert Detremmerie
Hubert Detremmerie (26 March 1930; Deerlijk–9 November 2008; Ronse) was a Belgian businessman and banker. From 1955 until he retired in March 1995, he worked at BACOB Bank (now part of Belfius), the bank of the Belgian Catholic labor organisat ...
,
Mark Dubrulle
Mark Dubrulle (Ghent, Belgium, 26 January 1943) is a Belgian consultant and environmentalist.
Biography
Dubrulle was trained at the Naval School in Ostend (B) and spent two years at sea. His academic background is in psychology and sociology at ...
,
Jan Huyghebaert,
Koen Lenaerts
Koen Lenaerts, Baron Lenaerts (; born 20 December 1954 in Mortsel) is a Belgian jurist and the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union. He is also a Professor of European Law at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and was a membe ...
,
Jacques Moulaert,
Sylvain Plasschaert
Sylvain Plasschaert (born 13 May 1929) is a former Belgian professor in law. He was a member of the Coudenberg group, a Belgian federalist think tank.
Education
He holds a Bachelor in Philosophy, Doctor of Law and Economics, and Master of Law.
...
,
Carlos Van Rafelghem,
Paul Van Remoortere,
Els Witte
Els, Baroness Witte (born 30 September 1941, Borgerhout) is a Belgium, Belgian historian. She was professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and honorary rector of the university. Els Witte was the first female rector of a Belgian university. Sh ...
,
Kris Deschouwer,
Mieke Offeciers
Mieke Offeciers-Van De Wiele (born 12 August 1952 in Kruibeke) is a Belgian businesswoman. From 7 March 1992 to 5 September 1993, she was Belgium's Minister of Budget.
Biography
Mieke Offeciers has a law degree. She started her career at the en ...
-Vandewiele, Patrick van Ypersele de Strihou (family of
Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou).
The most active members were
Frans Vanistendael
Franciscus (Frans) Vanistendael (1942-2021) was a Belgian expert on tax law and former professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL) and the Brussels Tax College (HUBrussel). Until 2005 he was dean of the law school of the KU Leuven. He ...
(former professor fiscal law at the
Catholic University of Leuven
University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to:
* Old University of Leuven (1425–1797)
* State University of Leuven (1817–1835)
* Catholic University of L ...
),
Fiscaal jurist Frans Vanistendael met emeritaat
Kuleuven 4 September 2007 Bavo Cool
Saint Bavo of Ghent (also known as Bavon, Allowin, Bavonius, Baaf; AD 622–659) is a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saint. He was the son of Pepin of Landen and the brother of saints Begga and Gertrude of Nivelles.
Life
Bavo was born n ...
, Alain Deneef (later president of the NMBS
french: Société nationale des chemins de fer belgesgerman: Nationale Gesellschaft der Belgischen Eisenbahnen
, type = Statutory corporation
, industry = Rail Transport
, foundation = 1926
, founder = Government o ...
), Roland Charlier
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
(civil servant ), Charles van der Straeten Waillet, , Michel van den Abeele, , Felix Standaert
Felix Standaert is a Belgian diplomat and former Belgian ambassador to Ruanda and 1977 - 1980 to the Holy See. He was a member of the Coudenberg group
The Coudenberg group ( nl, Coudenberggroep, french: Groupe Coudenberg) was a Belgian federalis ...
and Jan Hinnekens. Vincent Van Quickenborne
Vincent ( la, Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, which is derived from the Latin word (''to conquer'').
People with the given name Artists
*Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor
*Vincent van Gogh ...
was a junior member.
Bibliography
* ''Naar een nieuw België'', Lannoo, Tielt (1987)
* ''In naam van de democratie'', Roularta Media Group
Roularta Media Group is a publishing and broadcasting company based in Roeselare, Belgium. Its operations were started in 1954.
History and profile
Roularta was established by lawyer Willy De Nolf in 1954. The group operates in the France, th ...
, Roeselare
Roeselare (; french: Roulers, ; West Flemish: ''Roeseloare'') is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke.
...
, (1991)
* ''De buitenlandse betrekkingen in het federale België''
* ''Federal type solutions and European integration'', University Press of America
University Press of America is an academic publisher based in the United States. Part of the independent Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, it was founded in 1975 and states that it has published "more than 10,000 academic, scholarly, and b ...
(1990)
See also
* B Plus B Plus is a Belgian non profit organization which promotes tolerance and solidarity between the communities of Belgium. The organization supports federalism as a way to organize the Belgian state. Gilles Vanden Burre is the president of the organ ...
* Itinera Institute
References
*
Les archives des mouvements anti-séparatistes. Une moisson abondante
1984 establishments in Belgium
1999 disestablishments in Belgium
Think tanks established in 1984
Think tanks disestablished in 1999
Think tanks based in Belgium
Political and economic think tanks based in the European Union
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