1. Franciscus Henricus Johannes Joseph "Frans" Andriessen was a Dutch politician of the Catholic People's Party and later the Christian Democratic Appeal and businessperson who served as European Commissioner from 6 January 1981 until 6 January 1993.
Frans Andriessen served as Minister of Finance from 1977 until 1980, and as the Netherlands' European Commissioner from 1981 until 1993.
Frans Andriessen worked for a construction institute in Utrecht from October 1953 until February 1967 and as CEO from July 1961.
Frans Andriessen was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1967 general election, taking of office on 23 February 1967.
Frans Andriessen served as a frontbencher, serving as chair of the standing committees for Public Housing Reform and spokesperson for housing.
On 16 August 1971 the party leader and parliamentary leader Gerard Veringa took a medical leave of absence and Frans Andriessen was selected as his interim successor on 16 August 1971.
On 28 September 1971, Veringa unexpectedly announced that he was stepping down as leader, and Frans Andriessen was unanimously selected as his permanent successor on 1 October 1971.
Frans Andriessen sought bigger cuts than his party would accept, and in February 1980 tendered his resignation, precipitating a cabinet crisis that forced Queen Juliana to interrupt a holiday in Austria.
Frans Andriessen was elected to the Senate in the 1980 Senate election, taking office on 16 September 1980.
In November 1980 Frans Andriessen was nominated by Prime Minister Dries van Agt as the next European Commissioner in the Thorn Commission, and secured the heavy portfolios of Competition and Parliamentary Relations, taking office on 6 January 1981.
Frans Andriessen's consolation was the First Vice-Presidency and the portfolio of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brussels' toughest, in the Delors Commission, taking office on 6 January 1985.
Frans Andriessen blamed Britain, accusing Michael Jopling, Minister of Agriculture, of disobeying an "order" to change export arrangements for sheep meat.
When French farmers hijacked British lamb consignments, Frans Andriessen suggested an export tax to offset the benefits to British exporters of a weak pound; the Commission overruled him.
At the start of 1986 Frans Andriessen recommended a general price freeze for the year.
Frans Andriessen got his way after a 21-hour negotiating session, and later persuaded member states to accept drastic cuts in milk production.
Frans Andriessen began by warning Japan that unless it opened its markets, the EC might refuse it licences for banking in Europe.
Frans Andriessen told Britain that if it did not want to engage fully with Europe it could go back to the European Free Trade Association.
Frans Andriessen proposed a "European Economic Space", enabling EFTA countries to participate in the single market, while opening the door to countries to the East.
Frans Andriessen retired from active politics at 62 and became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government and as a occasional diplomat for economic and diplomatic delegations, and was professor of European integration at his alma mater, Utrecht University, from March 1990 until September 2009.
Frans Andriessen was known for his abilities as a skilful negotiator and effective consensus builder and continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his is death in March 2019 at the age of 89.
Frans Andriessen was a Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion, and held the Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Frans Andriessen married Catherine Ten Holter in 1955; she survives him with their four children.