{{Short description|Belgian politician (born 1958)}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Koen Geens | image = Koen Geens Portrait.jpg | office = Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium | prime_minister = Charles Michel<br>Sophie Wilmès | term_start = 2 July 2019 | term_end = 1 October 2020 | predecessor = Kris Peeters | successor = | office1 = Minister of Justice | prime_minister1 = Charles Michel<br>Sophie Wilmès | term_start1 = 11 October 2014 | term_end1 = 1 October 2020 | predecessor1 = Annemie Turtelboom | successor1 = Vincent Van Quickenborne | office2 = Minister of Finance | prime_minister2 = Elio Di Rupo | term_start2 = 5 March 2013 | term_end2 = 11 October 2014 | predecessor2 = Steven Vanackere | successor2 = Johan Van Overtveldt | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|1|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Merksem, Belgium | death_date = | death_place = | party = Christian Democratic and Flemish | alma_mater = University of Antwerp<br>Catholic University of Leuven<br>Harvard University <!--|religion = Roman Catholicism--> }} '''Koenraad Frans Julia Geens''' (born 22 January 1958) is a Belgian jurist and politician of the Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) who served as the Minister of Justice and as Deputy Prime Minister in the governments of Prime Ministers Charles Michel and Sophie Wilmès.
==Early life and education== Geens studied at the University of Antwerp (UFSIA) and the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), where he received his law degree in 1980, and at Harvard University where he received an LL.M.
==Career== ===Early career=== Since 1986 Geens has become a professor at the KU Leuven. In that capacity, he was appointed by the Belgian government as the scientific coordinator for the codification of the Belgian laws on companies and financial accounts, which culminated in a new Belgian company code in 2001.<ref>[https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/koen-geens-new-governor-for-belgium Koen Geens, new Governor for Belgium] European Investment Bank (EIB), press release of March 14, 2013.</ref> In 2009 Geens was a candidate for rector of the KU Leuven but lost out to Mark Waer.
Geens is a co-founder of an independent lawfirm in Belgium with offices in Antwerp, Brussels and Kortrijk.
===Political career=== From 2007 to 2009 Geens served as chief of staff to the Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters. When Steven Vanackere resigned in March 2013 as Minister of Finance, Geens was appointed as his successor.<ref>Ben Deighton (March 5, 2013), [https://www.reuters.com/article/belgium-finmin/koen-geens-appointed-new-belgian-finance-minister-royal-palace-idUSL6N0BXJPE20130305 Koen Geens appointed new Belgian finance minister - royal palace] ''Reuters''.</ref>
In October 2014 Geens became Minister of Justice in the Michel Government. In addition, he chaired the European People's Party’s Justice Ministers Meeting.<ref>[http://www.epp.eu/about-us/structure/ Council of the EU and Ministerial meetings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927131847/http://www.epp.eu/about-us/structure/ |date=2016-09-27 }} European People’s Party (EPP).</ref>
During his time in office, Geens steered through the legislative process a 2015 law which invalidated passports and identity cards of people authorities believe plan to go and fight for militant Islamist organizations in the Middle East.<ref>Robert-Jan Bartunek (June 12, 2015), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-security/belgium-to-revoke-passports-of-suspected-islamist-fighters-idUSKBN0OS1E120150612 Belgium to revoke passports of suspected Islamist fighters] ''Reuters''.</ref> In the wake of the 2016 Brussels bombings, both Geens and fellow cabinet member Jan Jambon offered their resignation to Prime Minister Michel over lapses;<ref>Robert-Jan Bartunek (April 18, 2016), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-attacks-belgium/belgian-pm-backs-ministers-comment-that-some-muslims-cheered-attacks-idUSKCN0XF0WY Belgian PM backs minister's comment that some Muslims cheered attacks] ''Reuters''.</ref> both were refused.<ref>Peter Spiegel (March 24, 2016), [https://www.ft.com/content/993c7024-65ff-3c5b-b7b7-cb7a7b824c2b Two Belgian ministers offer to resign but are refused] ''Financial Times''.</ref><ref>Laurens Cerulus (March 24, 2016), [https://www.politico.eu/article/belgian-ministers-offer-to-quit-over-terror-mistakes/ Belgian ministers offer to quit over terror ‘mistakes’] ''Politico Europe''.</ref>
As part of the government formation, Geens was appointed by King Philippe of Belgium to explore possibilities to form a coalition government in early 2020.
==Other activities== ===International organizations=== * African Development Bank (AfDB), Ex-Officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014)<ref>[https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Annual_Report_2013.pdf Annual Report 2013] African Development Bank (AfDB).</ref> * Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014) * European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014) * European Investment Bank (EIB), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014)<ref>[https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/koen-geens-new-governor-for-belgium Koen Geens, new Governor for Belgium] European Investment Bank (EIB), press release of March 14, 2013.</ref> * Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014) * International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ex-Officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014)<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.aspx Members] International Monetary Fund (IMF).</ref> * Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014) * World Bank, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors (2013-2014)
===Corporate boards=== * BNP Paribas Fortis, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors (2011-2013) <ref>[https://www.eib.org/en/press/news/koen-geens-new-governor-for-belgium Koen Geens, new Governor for Belgium] European Investment Bank (EIB), press release of March 14, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://www.bnpparibas.be/en/2013/03/06/member-of-the-board-of-directors-of-bnp-paribas-fortis-appointed-finance-minister/ Member of the Board of Directors of BNP Paribas Fortis appointed Finance Minister] BNP Paribas Fortis, press release of March 6, 2013.</ref>
===Non-profit organizations=== * Academia Europaea, Member (since 2012) * Academy of European Law (ERA), Member of the Governing Board<ref>[https://www.era.int/cgi-bin/cms?_SID=NEW&_sprache=en&_bereich=artikel&_aktion=detail&idartikel=100415 Governing Board] Academy of European Law (ERA).</ref> * KU Leuven, Member of the Board of Trustees<ref>[https://admin.kuleuven.be/raden/en/board-of-trustees Board of Trustees] KU Leuven.</ref> * Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, Member
==References== <references /> *{{Official website|http://www.koengeens.be/}}
==External links== *{{commons category-inline}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Steven Vanackere}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Finance|years=2013–2014}} {{s-aft|after={{nowrap|Johan Van Overtveldt}}}} |- {{s-bef|before=Maggie De Block}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Justice|years=2014–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Vincent Van Quickenborne}} {{s-end}}
{{Justice Ministers of Belgium}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geens, Koen}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Christian Democratic and Flemish politicians Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:KU Leuven alumni Category:Academic staff of KU Leuven Category:People from Brasschaat Category:Deputy prime ministers of Belgium Category:Ministers of justice of Belgium Category:21st-century Belgian politicians Category:Members of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts Category:Ministers of finance of Belgium Category:People from Merksem