Biography

Charlemagne Prize Laureate 1957 Paul Henri Spaak

Biography

  • Born on 25th January 1899 in Schaerbeck near Brussels.
  • Studied Law in Brussels and was conferred a doctorate (LLD); he practiced as a lawyer in Brussels from 1921 bis 1931.
  • In the period from 1932 to 1966 he was a Member of the Belgian Parliament for the Socialist Party for a total of 30 years; he held several ministries, amongst others he was Foreign Minister on several occasions (1936 to 1938; 1939 to 1945; 1945 to 1947; 1954 to 1957; 1961 to 1966) and Prime Minister (1938 to 1939; 1947 to 1950).
  • In 1946 he presided over the first session of the General Assembly of the UN. He drafted the plan for the Belgian–Dutch–Luxemburg union and, as advocate of a European agreement, played a decisive role in the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community.
  • He was Secretary General of Nato from 1957 to 1961.
  • Died on 31st July 1972.
Photo Paul Henri Spaak

Paul Henri Spaak