Pascal Smet, Secretary of State, Brussels-Capital Region
Pascal Smet is responsible for Urbanism and Heritage, European and International Relations, Foreign Trade and Fire-fighting and Emergency Medical Assistance.
He studied law at the University of Antwerp and began his political engagement at the age of 17 becoming president of the young socialists and soon after was elected as a municipal councilor in Beveren and then as a provincial councillor for East Flanders.
In the early 1990’s he moved to Brussels and worked as civil servant at the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons becoming the Commissioner General for Refugees in 2000.
In September 2003, he became the new Brussels socialist party (sp.a) Secretary of State for Mobility and in 2006 was elected municipal councillor for the City of Brussels and alderman for public works, participation and equal opportunities. After a period as Minister for Education, Youth and Equal Opportunities for the Flemish government, he returned to the Brussels government in 2014 as the Minister for Mobility and Public Works and was able to carry out his ambition to foster sustainable urban development involving new ways of designing public space; a bigger emphasis on public transport and more space for cyclists and pedestrians.
