Jean Rey

Jean Rey (15 July 1902 – 19 May 1983) was a Belgian Liberal politician who served as the second president of the European Commission from 1967 to 1970. He served as European Commissioner for External Relations from 1958 to 1967. The 1983–1984 academic year at the College of Europe was named in his honour. Early life Born in Liège into a Protestant family, Jean Rey studied law at the University of Liège, where he obtained a PhD in 1926. He began his career as a barrister at the Court of Appeal in Liège. His commitment to the Walloon Movement drew him into politics. He joined the Liberal Party and was elected city councillor of Liège in 1935. In 1939, he won a seat in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. In the wake of World War II, he was one of the most vocal opponents of the "policy of independence" (neutrality) supported by successive Belgian governments and King Leopold III. He was mobilised as a reserve officer in 1940 and served during the Battle of Belgium. He was captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the conflict as a prisoner of war, being interned in Oflag XD near Fischbeck, where he was member of the clandestine Masonic Lodge L'Obstinée.