He also was Federal Minister of Agriculture  and middle class (from 1999 to 2001) and Flemish Minister of Economy, Foreign Trade and Housing (from 2001 to 2003).
During his tenure, he served as both Federal Minister of Agriculture and a member of the middle class (from 1999 to 2001), and later as Flemish Minister of Economy, Foreign Trade, and Housing (from 2001 to 2003).