Bertel Haarder

He has also served as president of the Nordic Council on two occasions, first in 2011 and latest from 2020 to 2021.

Bertel Haarder studied at Aarhus University and Sønderborg Statsskole. The recorded working language is English and Danish. Places of work recorded in the authority are Strasbourg, Brussels and Copenhagen. Positions recorded include member of the Folketing and Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs of Denmark. Distinctions recorded are Robert Schuman Medal, Honorary craftsman, Ting Prize and Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

• Name — Bertel Geismar Haarder • Office — Minister of Education • Prime Minister — Poul Schlüter • Term Start — 10 September 1982 • Term End — 25 January 1993 • Predecessor — Dorte Bennedsen • Successor — Ole Vig Jensen • Office1 — Minister for Refugees, Immigrants, Integration and European Affairs • Prime Minister1 — Anders Fogh Rasmussen • Term Start1 — 27 November 2001 • Term End1 — 1 January 2003 • Office2 — Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration • Prime Minister2 — Anders Fogh Rasmussen • Term Start2 — 1 January 2003 • Term End2 — 2 August 2004 • Office3 — Minister for Refugees, Immigrants, Integration and Development Cooperation • Prime Minister3 — Anders Fogh Rasmussen • Term Start3 — 2 August 2004 • Term End3 — 18 February 2005 • Office4 — Minister of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs • Prime Minister4 — Anders Fogh Rasmussen • Term Start4 — 18 February 2005 • Term End4 — 23 November 2007 • Office5 — Minister of Education and Nordic Cooperation • Prime Minister5 — Anders Fogh Rasmussen Lars Løkke Rasmussen • Term Start5 — 18 February 2005 • Term End5 — 23 November 2007 • Office6 — Minister of the Interior and Health • Prime Minister6 — Lars Løkke Rasmussen • Term Start6 — 23 February 2010 • Term End6 — 3 October 2011 • Office7 — Minister for Culture and Ecclesiastical Affairs • Prime Minister7 — Lars Løkke Rasmussen • Term Start7 — 28 June 2015 • Term End7 — 28 November 2016 • Office8 — Member of the Folketing • Term Start8 — 8 February 2005 • Constituency8 — Zealand (from 2011) Greater Copenhagen (2007-2011) Vestsjælland (2005-2007) • Term Start9 — 9 January 1975 • Term End9 — 30 September 1999 • Constituency9 — København (1977-1999) Nordjylland (1975-1977) • Constituency Mp10 — Denmark • Term Start10 — 1994 • Term End10 — 2001 • Parliament10 — European • Office11 — President of Nordic Council • Term Start11 — 2011 • Term End11 — 2011 • Term Start12 — 2020 • Term End12 — 2021 • Born — 7 September 1944 • Birthplace — Rønshoved, Denmark • Party — Venstre • Alma Mater — Aarhus University • Term End8 — 1 November 2022

Haarder was first elected to the Folketing (Parliament) in 1975. Until 1977 he was a member of the Folketing representing North Jutland County constituency, and from 1977 to 1999 he was a member of the Folketing from Copenhagen County constituency. From 2005 to 2007, he was a member from Vestsjælland County constituency, and since 2007 he has been a member from Greater Copenhagen constituency. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2001, and he served as vice-chairman of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999. From 10 September 1982 to 25 January 1993 he was Education Minister in various cabinets of Poul Schlüter. From 10 September 1987 to 25 January 1993 he was also the Minister of Research. From November 2001 to February 2005 he was Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen I, and enacted a policy of tough measures designed to limit the number of immigrants coming to Denmark. From February 2005 until February 2010 Haarder was once more the Education Minister in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen II. From February 2010 to October 2011 he was Interior and Health Minister in the Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet Furthermore, from February 2005 to November 2007 he was minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs and from November 2007 until February 2010 the Minister of Nordic Cooperation in the Cabinet of Anders Fogh Rasmussen III. In February 2010 the veteran minister took over as Interior and Health Minister until October 2011. He is the longest serving Danish minister. In 2021 Haarder announced he would not be standing at the 2022 Danish general election and subsequently lost his seat in the Folketing.

Haarder was born 7 September 1944 on Rønshoved højskole, son of Hans Haarder and Agnete Haarder. He graduated in political science from Aarhus University in 1970. From 1968 to 1973 he worked as a teacher on Askov Højskole. From 1971 to 1973 he worked as a teacher at Haderslev State Teacher Training College. From 1973 to 1975 he worked as a lecturer at Aalborg Teacher Training College.