1985, degree in French Language and Literature, Radboud University Nijmegen; 1984-85, postgraduate courses in European Law and French Literature, University of Nancy. 1987-90, Policy Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 1990-93, Dep. of the Dutch Embassy in Moscow; 1993-94, Dep. Head of the Minister for Development Cooperation's EC Affairs Section; 1994-95, Staff Member to EU Commissioner; 1995-98, Senior Adviser and Private Secretary to High Commissioner on National Minorities of the OSCE; 1998-2007, Member of the Dutch Parliament, representing Partij van de Arbeid (Dutch Labour Party); 2007-10, Minister of European Affairs; 2010-12, Member of the Dutch Parliament, representing Partij van de Arbeid (Dutch Labour Party); 2012-14, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Since 2014: First Vice-President of the EU Commission, in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.