In 1999 he was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium a post he held till 2004.
At the age of 23, Hansenne obtained a Doctor of Law, subsequently gaining a degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Liège.
In 1962, Hansenne began working at the University of Liège as a researcher before beginning his career in politics in 1972.
In 1997, during his time as Director-General of the ILO, Hansenne called for the certification of countries which adhere to his organisation's labour standards.
[2] In 1999, he was elected a Member of the European Parliament representing Belgium, the same year publishing a book, Un garde-fou pour la mondialisation.