Brussels, 18 Feb. (LaPresse) – Frits Bolkestein, the former European Commissioner who authored the 2006/123/EC Directive on the liberalization of services, which is named after him, has died at the age of 91. Local media report this, citing a communication from his family. Bolkestein had been ill for some time and passed away yesterday at the Rosa Spier nursing home, where he had been living since 2022. The Dutch politician was the leader of the VVD, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, from 1990 to 1998.