Koen Geens | |
---|---|
Minister of Justice | |
Assumed office 11 October 2014 |
|
Prime Minister | Charles Michel |
Preceded by | Annemie Turtelboom |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 5 March 2013 – 11 October 2014 |
|
Prime Minister | Elio Di Rupo |
Preceded by | Steven Vanackere |
Succeeded by | Johan Van Overtveldt |
Personal details | |
Born |
Brasschaat, Belgium |
22 January 1958
Political party | Christian Democratic and Flemish |
Alma mater |
University of Antwerp Catholic University of Leuven Harvard University |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Koen Geens (born 22 January 1958 in Brasschaat) is a Belgian Flemish politician and member of Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V). He is the current Minister of Justice in the Belgian federal cabinet.
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. Since 1986 Geens has become a professor at the KU Leuven. In 2009 Geens was a candidate for rector of the KU Leuven but lost out to Mark Waer.
Koen Geens is a co-founder of Eubelius , an independent lawfirm in Belgium with offices in Antwerp, Brussels and Kortrijk.
From 2007 to 2009 Koen 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. In October 2014 he became Minister of Justice in the Michel Government.
Geens is a member of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts and Academia Europaea.