Michel Delebarre

Michel Delebarre (born 27 April 1946) is a member of the Senate of France. He represents the Nord department, and is a member of the Socialiste, radical, citoyen et divers gauche. He is also mayor of Dunkirk.

Michel Delebarre graduated with a degree in Geography. In 1982 he was appointed Head of Private Office for Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy. During François Mitterrand's Presidency he held several ministerial posts between 1984 and 1986 and between 1988 and 1993. His portfolios included: Labour, Social Affairs, Transport, and the Public Service. He was also appointed the first Minister for urban planning.

In 1989 Michel Delebarre was elected Mayor of Dunkirk (re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2008) and in 2002 member of the French National Assembly on behalf of the Parti Socialiste (re-elected in 2007). From 1998 to 2001 he was President of the Regional Council of "Nord-Pas-de Calais". From 1999 until 2008, Michel Delebarre chaired the largest French Association of Social Housing (Union Sociale pour l'Habitat) representing 820 local branches with a 5 mln rental housing stock.

Involved in the wiretap scandal (President François Mitterrand and Jean-Edern Hallier), he was condemned by justice in 2005.

In February 2006 he was elected President of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union (CoR). Between February 2008 and 2010, he was First Vice-President of the CoR.