The Coudenberg group ( nl, Coudenberggroep, french: Groupe Coudenberg) was a

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...

think-tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental org ...

, it was named after the place where the members met, the

Coudenberg The Palace of Coudenberg (french: Palais du Coudenberg, nl, Coudenbergpaleis) was a royal residence situated on the Coudenberg or Koudenberg (; Dutch for "Cold Hill"), a small hill in what is today the Royal Quarter of Brussels, Belgium. F ...

, one of the seven hillocks on which the centre of

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

has been built. President of the organization was the

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

Jean-Pierre De Bandt.

Organisation

The Coudenberg group was established on 6 June 1984 as a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

organization and was dissolved on 11 February 1999. The think-tank united leading people from the

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...

venture Venture may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *The Ventures, an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 *"A Venture", 1971 song by the band Yes *''Venture'', a 2010 EP by AJR Games * ''Venture'' (video game), a 1981 arcade gam ...

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

s and the free professions. The Coudenberg group presented itself as an ''independent think-tank which unites, on the basis of a linguistic and ideological pluralism, people who understand that Belgium is itself on a cross point and who want to contribute to the political renewal of this country''. The Coudenberg group thought about issues concerning the organization of

federal Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to: Politics General *Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies *Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...

Belgium and published several studies about this topic. Its goal was to defend the federal state against the demands of

Flemish nationalists The Flemish Movement ( nl, Vlaamse Beweging) is an umbrella term which encompasses various political groups in the Belgian region of Flanders and, less commonly, in French Flanders. Ideologically, it encompasses groups which have sought to promo ...

Members

Among the approximately 70 members were people such as Antoine Bekaert, André Belmans,

Philippe Bodson Philippe André Eugène, Baron Bodson (2 November 1944 – 4 April 2020) was a Belgian businessman and politician. He served in the Belgian Senate from 1999 to 2003. Education Bodson graduated as civil engineer at the University of Liège (ULg) ...

Bart De Schutter Prof. Dr. Em. Bart De Schutter is a Belgian scientist and was a member of the Coudenberg group a federalist think tank. Education He graduated as Doctor in Law from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 1959. In addition he obtained a MA in Pol ...

Jacques De Staercke Baron Jacques De Staercke (19272017) was a Belgian businessman and politician. He was a member of the Coudenberg group, a Belgian federalist think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and ...

, Hubert Detremmerie, Mark Dubrulle,

Jan Huyghebaert Jan, Baron Huyghebaert (born 1945) is a Belgium, Belgian businessman. He was a member of the Coudenberg group, a Belgian federalist think tank. Education He obtained a degree in Philosophy, Language and Literature from the University of Antwerp ( ...

Koen Lenaerts Koen Lenaerts, Baron Lenaerts (; born 20 December 1954 in Mortsel) is a Belgian jurist and the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union. He is also a Professor of European Law at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and was a member ...

, Jacques Moulaert, Sylvain Plasschaert, Carlos Van Rafelghem, Paul Van Remoortere, Els Witte, Kris Deschouwer, Mieke Offeciers-Vandewiele, Patrick van Ypersele de Strihou (family of

Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou Jacques Marie Joseph Hubert Ghislain van Ypersele de Strihou (born 5 December 1936), was the ''Principal Private Secretary'' to the King of the Belgians (1983–2013). When Albert II of Belgium succeeded his brother Baudouin I of Belgium, he kept ...

). The most active members were Frans Vanistendael (former professor fiscal law at the

Catholic University of Leuven University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to: * Old University of Leuven (1425–1797) * State University of Leuven (1817–1835) * Catholic University of ...

),Fiscaal jurist Frans Vanistendael met emeritaat
Kuleuven 4 September 2007 Bavo Cool, Alain Deneef (later president of the

NMBS french: Société nationale des chemins de fer belgesgerman: Nationale Gesellschaft der Belgischen Eisenbahnen , type = Statutory corporation , industry = Rail Transport , foundation = 1926 , founder = Government of ...

), Roland Charlier (civil servant ), Charles van der Straeten Waillet, Jacques Groothaert, Michel van den Abeele, Guy Schrans, Felix Standaert and Jan Hinnekens.

Vincent Van Quickenborne Vincent ( la, Vincentius) is a male given name derived from the Roman name Vincentius, which is derived from the Latin word (''to conquer''). People with the given name Artists *Vincent Apap (1909–2003), Maltese sculptor *Vincent van Gogh ...

was a junior member.

Bibliography

* ''Naar een nieuw België'', Lannoo, Tielt (1987) * ''In naam van de democratie'',

Roularta Media Group Roularta Media Group is a publishing and broadcasting company based in Roeselare, Belgium. Its operations were started in 1954. History and profile Roularta was established by lawyer Willy De Nolf in 1954. The group operates in the France, the ...

Roeselare Roeselare (; french: Roulers, ; West Flemish: ''Roeseloare'') is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke. The ...

, (1991) * ''De buitenlandse betrekkingen in het federale België'' * ''Federal type solutions and European integration'',

University Press of America University Press of America is an academic publisher based in the United States. Part of the independent Rowman & Littlefield Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an independent publishing house founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the ...

(1990)

References

*
Les archives des mouvements anti-séparatistes. Une moisson abondante
1984 establishments in Belgium 1999 disestablishments in Belgium Think tanks established in 1984 Think tanks disestablished in 1999 Think tanks based in Belgium Political and economic think tanks based in the European Union {{Belgium-org-stub

Organisation

Members

Bibliography

See also

References