Jacques Delors, the influential architect of European unity and a key figure in the establishment of the European Union’s single currency, has passed away at the age of 98, according to a statement from his relatives.
The fervent proponent of European solidarity, Delors, who hailed from the French socialist ranks, helmed the European Commission—the EU’s governing body—for an unprecedented three terms. His tenure, spanning from January 1985 to the close of 1994, was a period of significant evolution for the burgeoning European Union.
Delors’ vision of a more federated Europe often put him at odds with contemporaries like Britain’s Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher, who was a staunch opponent of ceding national powers to the European Commission in Brussels.
The tension between the United Kingdom and the Commission escalated notably during Thatcher’s final years in office, particularly over the issue of monetary union, leading to an infamous headline by The Sun newspaper that provocatively challenged Delors.
Delors’ passing occurred three years subsequent to the United Kingdom’s complete severance from the EU on December 31, 2020, an event that followed contentious negotiations and nearly half a century of membership.
An ardent Catholic and trade unionist with a specialization in economic planning, Delors was renowned for his relentless pursuit of consensus among EU member states to forge the European single market, a cornerstone achievement for the Union.
During his leadership, the European Community—predecessor to the EU—expanded from 10 to 15 members, welcoming Spain and Portugal in 1986, and later Sweden, Austria, and Finland in 1995. The period also witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, monumental events that brought the vision of a united Europe closer to reality.
Delors, who shared a strong rapport with then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, played a pivotal role in reinforcing the Franco-German alliance, essential to the EU’s stability.
Those who collaborated with Delors remember him as a force of nature, capable of impassioned outbursts or strategic arm-twisting to achieve desired outcomes. Peter Sutherland, a former Irish commissioner, once praised Delors for his intellect, describing him as a “coiled spring.”
The tenacious statesman, easily recognizable by his signature heavy-framed glasses and neatly swept-back gray hair, was known for his ability to employ a combination of bluntness, subtlety, and diplomatic acumen, often presenting optimistic promises to drive the European project forward.
Delors himself acknowledged his human flaws, admitting to losing his temper and making mistakes, yet was recognized for his authenticity and refusal to be preoccupied with his public image.
Born in 1925 in Paris into a devout Catholic family, Jacques Lucien Jean Delors acquired his economics degree from the Sorbonne and followed his father’s footsteps into a career at the central bank. A union activist from his youth and a lifelong advocate for workers’ rights, Delors joined the Socialist Party in the 1970s, balancing his political leanings with his faith and market economy principles.
Before his tenure as Commission President, Delors served as France’s Minister of finance, Economics, and Budget under President Francois Mitterand, where he was deeply involved in shaping European economic policies in the early 1980s.
Convinced of the necessity for deeper economic and monetary integration within the European Community, Delors’ ambition set him on a collision course with Thatcher, who perceived his goals as the makings of a French-led European superstate.
Despite political friction, Delors successfully steered the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which led to the formation of the European Union, and inaugurated the single market in 1993 before stepping down from his role in December 1994.
Opting not to pursue the French presidency in the 1995 election, Delors continued to engage with European matters, establishing the think tank “Notre Europe” and supporting federalist initiatives.
During Europe’s debt crisis from 2010 to 2013, Delors frequently voiced his support for the single currency, the euro, while recognizing its shortcomings as a project driven by strong political resolve but lacking in robust economic foundations.
Delors is mourned by his daughter Martine Aubry, a prominent French politician and Lille’s mayor, who in 2011 vied to become the socialist candidate for the French presidency but was defeated by Francois Hollande.
Jacques Delors, a key figure in European integration and a principal architect of the EU’s single currency, passed away at the age of 98. Delors led the European Commission for an unprecedented three terms from 1985 to 1994, a period of significant growth and change for the European Community, which expanded from 10 to 15 members under his tenure. He was a staunch federalist, often at odds with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who opposed ceding powers to Brussels. Delors was instrumental in the creation of the European single market and the Maastricht Treaty, which established the European Union. After stepping down from the Commission, he continued to engage in European affairs through his think-tank, Notre Europe, and remained a vocal advocate for the euro during the continent’s debt crisis. Delors is survived by his daughter Martine Aubry, a prominent French politician.
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