As a commissioner, he once broke his arm when he fell from one of his plum trees. This time, the fall - caused by heart failure - was from a garden ladder, and it was fatal.
He was Member of the European Parliament (1979-1985).
After his departure from politics Van Miert was an international advisor to Goldman Sachs.
He also worked with Eli Lilly and Company, a global pharmaceutical corporation.
On 26 May 1992 he was appointed Minister of State.
He studied at Ghent University (1962-1966) and gained a degree in diplomatic sciences.
In 2001, he was awarded the Vlerick Award.
In 1976 he became adjunct-national secretary of the - at that time - unitary Belgian socialist party.