Who is Dirk Sterckx?

Dirk Sterckx was born in Herent on 25 September 1946. He studied German Filology at the University of Gent. After his studies he taught Dutch, English and German in various secondary schools in the Antwerp region.

From 1971 till 1972 Dirk Sterckx fulfilled his military service where he taught English and Dutch at the Sub-Lieutenant Preparatory School in Laken.

In 1975 he started his career as a journalist at the former public Belgian broadcasting company BRT where he became the EU-correspondent in 1980. Since 1986 he was in charge of the final editing of the BRT-news until 1994 when he took up the position of Chief Editor and became the Anchor of the news magazine "Ter Zake". Two years later, he became Head of News of the renamed public broadcasting company VRT.

On 13 June 1999 Dirk Sterckx was elected as a Member of the European Parliament.

Up to 13 June 2004 he followed the transport dossiers, environment dossiers and was a member of the Delegation with the United States. He was also vice-president of the European Liberals and Democrats.

From 16 February 2004 until the elections on 13 June 2004 Dirk Sterckx was president of VLD.

In the meantime, Dirk Sterckx was re-elected as a member of the European Parliament.

He continues his work in the Transport Committee. He will also follow the European Fisheries policy and is a substitute member in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee.

He is also Chairman of the Delegation with China.

On 7 June 2009, Dirk Sterckx gets re-elected as a member of the European Parliament. He starts his third parliamentary mandate on 14 July 2009. 

Again, his lead Committee is the Committee for Transport and Tourism. He is a substitute member of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee Employment and Social Affairs.

He is a member of the Delegation with Mexico.