Wilfried Martens Biography and Timeline

Minister of Community Problems

Appointed Minister of Community Problems

President of Belgium

Appointed President of the Social Christian Party

Role range: 1972-1979

First to Fourth Martens Governments

Begins the First to Fourth Martens Governments in Brussels and serves as Prime Minister of Belgium.

Role range: 1979-1981

Treaty of Accession

Martens signs for Belgium as Prime Minister during Greece's accession ceremony.

Role range: 1979-1981 – 1979-1981

Prime Minister of Belgium

Appointed Prime Minister of Belgium, 1st term

Role range: 1979-1981

First to Fourth Martens Governments

The First to Fourth Martens Governments ends in Brussels, concluding this period as Prime Minister of Belgium.

Role range: 1979-1981

Prime Minister of Belgium

Appointed Prime Minister of Belgium, 2nd term

Role range: 1981-1985

Treaty of Accession

Martens represents Belgium as the Community agrees the terms for Spanish and Portuguese membership.

Role range: 1985-1986 – 1981-1992

Border

The Schengen Treaty is signed by Belgium, Holland, Germany & France, abolishes border checks

Role range: 1985-

Treaty of Schengen

Leads Belgium when the five founding governments sign the Schengen Agreement, committing themselves to the gradual removal of internal border checks.

Role range: 1981-1992

Prime Minister of Belgium

Appointed Prime Minister of Belgium, 3rd term

Role range: 1985-

Treaty of Schengen

Leads Belgium when the five founding states sign the Convention implementing the 1985 Schengen Agreement.

Role range: 1981-1992

Treaty of Schengen

Martens helps lead Belgium as Italy signs its agreement to accede to the Schengen Convention. Brussels also stresses coordinated policing and external-border safeguards.

Role range: 1985-1999 – 1981-1992

Treaty of Schengen

Martens represents Belgium as Spain and Portugal sign Schengen accession agreements. The Belgian approach combines mobility with common visa and policing rules.

Role range: 1985-1999 – 1981-1992

Treaty of Maastricht

Leads Belgium's delegation as the Luxembourg European Council reviews progress toward political and monetary union.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1981-1992

Belgian Support for European Union

Supports stronger European institutions and movement toward monetary union.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1981-1992

Maastricht European Council

Represents Belgium during negotiations on the Treaty on European Union.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1981-1992

Treaty of Maastricht

Represents Belgium as the Maastricht European Council opens the decisive treaty negotiations.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1981-1992

Constitution of Belgium

Brussels is granted devolved power

Role range: 1985-

Rule of Brussels

Brussels is granted devolved power

Role range: 1985-

Rule of Flanders

Flanders is granted devolved power

Role range: 1985-

Rule of Wallonia

Wallonia is granted devolved power

Role range: 1985-