Michel Delebarre, Coordinator of Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform of the Committee of the Regions (COR)

Michel Delebarre was born on 27th April 1946 in Bailleul, France. He studied history and geography. His political career started in 1968 as Deputy Secretary-general of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais development board. In 1980, he became the Secretary-general of the city of Lille. In 1982 he was appointed Director of PM Pierre Mauroy’s Private Office. Between 1984 and 1986 and between 1988 and 1993, he held several ministerial posts in the governments of François Mitterrand with portfolios for Labor, Social Affairs, Transport, Housing and the Public Service. In 1989 Michel Delebarre was elected Mayor of Dunkirk (re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2008) and, in 2002, became member of the French National Assembly for the Nord constituency. From 1998 to 2001 Michel Delebarre was President of the Regional Council of "Nord-Pas-de Calais". In September 2011, he was elected as member of the French Senate. He is a member of the Committee of the Regions since 1998. Between 2002 and 2006 he was the Chairman of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions. Between 2006 and 2008 he was the President of the Committee of the Regions and between 2010 and 2012 the President of the COTER Commission. He is currently coordinator of the Europe 2020 platform of the CoR.