Grensverkenningen: Dagboek van een Eurocommissaris

by Frits Bolkestein

Grensverkenningen is het dagboek dat Bolkestein bijhield tijdens zijn ambtsperiode als Eurocommissaris. Het boek geeft een onthullend beeld achter de schermen van de macht. In een elegante, maar scherpzinnige en niets verdoezelende stijl beschrijft Bolkestein zijn dagelijkse bestaan tussen Brussel, Amsterdam en Straatsburg, zijn omgang met ministers, (Euro-)parlementariërs en journalisten, en zijn dagelijkse ervaringen met de besluitvorming in de gestaag uitdijende Brusselse bureaucratie.
Grensverkenningen verschijnt in het jaar waarin de Nederlandse bevolking zich, voor het eerst in de geschiedenis, door middel van een referendum over de Europese Grondwet, mag uitspreken over de toekomst van Europa.
Frits Bolkestein is de meest spraakmakende politicus van de afgelopen twintig jaar. Hij was onder meer staatssecretaris voor de Buitenlandse Handel, minister van Defensie en fractievoorzitter van de VVD in de Tweede Kamer. Als lijsttrekker van de VVD in 1998 behaalde hij 38 zetels, het hoogste aantal ooit door de VVD bereikt. Als politicus en schrijver had en heeft hij grote invloed op het Nederlandse politieke debat. De kroon op zijn carrière was zijn lidmaatschap van de Europese Commissie van 1999 tot 2004, als commissaris voor de Interne Markt, de Belastingen en de Douane-Unie.

323 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein was a Dutch politician and energy executive who served as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 1990 to 1998 and European Commissioner for Internal Market from 1999 until 2004 under Romano Prodi.
Bolkestein worked as a corporate director for Royal Dutch Shell from May 1960 until July 1976 and as a manager for an engineering company in Amsterdam from September 1976 until January 1978. Bolkestein became a member of the House of Representatives shortly after election of 1977 taking office on 16 January 1978 serving as a frontbencher and spokesman for Economic Affairs. After the election of 1982 Bolkestein was appointed as State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Cabinet Lubbers I taking office on 5 November 1982. After the election of 1986 Bolkestein was not offered a cabinet post in the new cabinet and returned to the House of Representatives on 3 June 1986 serving as a frontbencher and spokesman for Foreign Affairs and International trade. Bolkestein was appointed as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Lubbers II following a cabinet reshuffle taking office on 24 September 1988. After the election of 1989 Bolkestein again returned to the House of Representatives on 14 September 1989. Shortly after the election, party leader and parliamentary leader Joris Voorhoeve announced he was stepping down and Bolkestein announced his candidacy to succeed and was selected as his successor on 30 April 1990.
For the election of 1994, Bolkestein served as lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a successful cabinet formation with Labour Leader Wim Kok and fellow Liberal Leader Hans van Mierlo formed the Cabinet Kok I with Bolkestein opting to remain as Parliamentary leader. Bolkestein also served as President of the Liberal International from 15 April 1996 until 18 April 2000. For the election of 1998 Bolkestein again served as lijsttrekker (top candidate) but shortly thereafter announced that he was stepping down on 30 July 1998 but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher. In August 1999 Bolkestein was nominated as the next European Commissioner in the Prodi Commission, and was giving the heavy portfolios of Internal Market and Services and Taxation and Customs serving from 16 September 1999 until 22 November 2004.