Hans Eichel is former German minister of finance and a former chair of the G7 and G20 international forums. He served as president of Germany’s federal council in 1998-99.

In tandem with Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, he oversaw the implementation from 2003 of ‘Agenda 2010’, aimed at reforming the German welfare system and labour relations to promote economic growth and reduce unemployment.

He heads the expert group on sustainable structural development for the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, established to promote democracy and political education in Germany.