Piet Dankert (8 January 1934, Stiens – 21 June 2003, Perpignan) was a Dutch social-democratic politician known for his long involvement in national and European institutions. A member of the Labour Party (PvdA), he combined parliamentary work in the Netherlands with a prominent role in the European Parliament and later with executive responsibility for European policy in a Dutch cabinet.

Career overview

Dankert first gained national prominence as a member of the Dutch House of Representatives (the Second Chamber), serving from 1968 until 1981. During this period he developed a reputation for expertise in international and European matters, which led to his election to the European Parliament in the late 1970s. He became a full-time Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and was elected President of the European Parliament on 19 January 1982, a post he held until 24 July 1984. His presidency took place during a phase when the Parliament was expanding its influence in Community affairs (European Parliament).

Government service and return to Europe

After a period back in national politics, Dankert joined the third cabinet of Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers as Secretary of State for European Affairs (1989–1994), a role that required balancing Dutch interests with ongoing European integration efforts and negotiations with Community institutions. He returned to the European Parliament as an MEP from 1994 to 1999, bringing experience from both the legislative and executive branches (Lubbers III).

Offices held

  • Member of the Dutch House of Representatives, 1968–1981
  • Member of the European Parliament, late 1970s; 1982–1984; 1994–1999
  • President of the European Parliament, 19 January 1982 – 24 July 1984 (presidency record)
  • Secretary of State for European Affairs, 1989–1994

Significance and legacy

Dankert is remembered as one of the Netherlands’ influential pro-European politicians of the late 20th century. Colleagues and observers noted his commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and to strengthening ties between national parliaments and European institutions. His career illustrates the close linkages that developed between domestic politics and European governance during the postwar decades.

He died in 2003 in southern France. For further summaries of his life and work consult institutional biographies and contemporary obituaries maintained by parliamentary archives and party histories (EP, PvdA).