Marc M.R. Vuijlsteke †

After an academic career at the University of Ghent (B) where he was conferred his Doctorat ès Lettres, Dr Marc M.R. Vuijlsteke joined the College of Europe in 1982 as Director of the Library. He was the College's Secretary General, and since 1996 Director General, heading the College of Europe’s Development Office, which is in charge of all external and contractual activities of the College.

Dr. Marc M.R. Vuijlsteke published on French and Provencal mediaeval and modern literature; language teaching methodology; library sciences; information technology and on-line research; European Integration; curriculum development in Eastern and Central Europe; regional policy; EU enlargement; and administrative reform.

In recognition of his activities in Russia, which were instrumental in the development of European Studies at Saint-Petersburg State University, Dr. Vuijlsteke was granted the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by this University in 2000. He was awarded the 10th Anniversary Medal of the Scoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Administrative (Bucarest, Romania) in the same year, and in 2001 he was offered the Zoltan Magyari Award of the University of Economic Sciences and Public Administration (Budapest, Hungary). In 2002 he was decorated by Mr. Georgi Parvanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, with the 'Madara Horseman' Order (first class) for “outstanding activities in promoting Bulgaria's relations with the EU”. On 3 May 2007, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the Development Office he was conferred the Romanian National Order for Merit, in the rank of "Commander", in recognition of his activities in the field of European Integration.