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Marga Klompé: scientist, politician and champion of the underprivileged

Life and times

Klompé became the first female member of the European Coal and Steel Community’s Common Assembly, the forerunner of today’s European Parliament, which held its first session in 1952.

She left the Assembly in 1956 to join the Dutch centre-left coalition government, headed by Prime Minister Willem Drees. She was appointed as Minister of Social Work, becoming the Netherlands’ first female minister.

A vision for Europe

In 1955, Klompé was appointed to a working party set up by the Common Assembly that focused on:

One of her biggest achievements as Minister was the country’s first law on universal social protection.

Marga Klompé during a debate in the Dutch House of Representatives
Marga Klompé during a debate in the Dutch House of Representatives

Marga Klompé during a debate in the Dutch House of Representatives

Publications

More about Marga Klompé’s life, work and contribution to the European project