Joop Wijn
Joannes Gerardus "Joop" Wijn is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal and businessman.
Early life and education
Wijn attended a gymnasium in Haarlem from April 1981 until May 1987 and applied at the University of Amsterdam in June 1987 majoring in Economics and obtaining a Bachelor of Economics degree in June 1989 before graduating with a Master of Economics degree in July 1991 and applied subsequently for a postgraduate education in Law and obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1992 before graduating with a Master of Economics degree in July 1994. Wijn worked as a economics teacher at the Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen and Schoevers from August 1991 until July 1994. Wijn worked as a financial analyst at the ABN AMRO from July 1994 until May 1998.Politics
Wijn was elected to the House of Representatives for the Christian Democratic Appeal in the Dutch general election|1998 general election], taking office on 19 May 1998. As an MP he served as spokesperson for finance, small business and integration, and as deputy spokesperson for economic affairs and postal services. In 2000, he was one of the few CDA MPs that voted in favour of the introduction of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands. The debate about same-sex marriage caused friction between his personal life and his political affiliation, as Wijn himself is gay.After the 2002 general election, Wijn was appointed List of Ministers of [Economic Affairs of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Economic Affairs|State Secretary for Economic Affairs] responsible for foreign trade in the Balkenende I cabinet, taking office on 22 July 2002. The cabinet fell just four months later on 16 October 2002 after tensions in the coalition over the instability of the Pim Fortuyn List and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity.
After the 2003 general election, Wijn returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 January 2003. Following the 2003 cabinet formation, Wijn was appointed as List of [Ministers of Finance of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Finance|State Secretary for Finance] in the Balkenende II cabinet, taking office on 27 May 2003. Among other things, Wijn was responsible for the functioning of the Tax and Customs Administration, which he transformed into an organisation that not only collects but also redistributes funds, e.g. for healthcare expenses, rent support and child benefits. His platform was the reduction of red tape and the promotion of tax benefits for families with children.
Wijn is credited with leading the creation of the famous Dutch Sandwich BEPS tax scheme, one of the world's largest tax sheltering BEPS tools,, after lobbying from U.S. tax lawyers from 2003-2006. They are credited with making the Netherlands one of the world’s largest corporate havens.
The Balkenende II cabinet fell on 30 June 2006 after the Democrats 66 had lost confidence in the functioning of List of [Ministers of Justice of the Netherlands#List of Ministers without Portfolio|Minister of Integration and Asylum Affairs] Rita Verdonk and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the 2006–2007 cabinet formation, when it was replaced by the caretaker Balkenende III cabinet, with Wijn appointed as Minister of Economic Affairs, taking office on 7 July 2006. After the 2006 general election, Wijn again returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 November 2006. On 6 February 2007, Wijn unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the Balkenende III cabinet was replaced by the Balkende IV cabinet on 22 February 2007 and he resigned from the House of Representatives the same day.