Delors was considered the driving force behind the largest integration steps in the history of European unification.
The former EU Commission President Jacques Delors is dead. His daughter Martine Aubry announced this to the AFP news agency on Wednesday. The French socialist headed the Brussels authority from 1985 to 1995 and was considered the driving force behind the largest integration steps in the history of European unification: the completion of the European internal market in 1992 and the founding of the European Union in 1993. Delors was 98 years old.
“He died in his sleep this morning in his home in Paris,” said the socialist politician Aubry on Wednesday. Delors began his European political career in 1979, as one of the first MEPs elected by direct popular vote. From 1981 to 1984 he was French Minister of Economy and Finance before taking over the leadership of the European Commission in 1985. On his initiative, the Brussels authorities published a white paper on the internal market, which, among other things, provided for the abolition of personal and goods controls within the then European Economic Community (EEC), the elimination of state monopolies and tax barriers to cross-border competition.
Edtstadler: “Great European”
To implement these measures, the Single European Act (EEA) was adopted in 1986 by the then twelve EC members. Six years later, another important integration step followed with the Maastricht Treaty, which provided for the introduction of a common currency. Delors’ term of office also saw the creation of the European Economic Area (EEA) with the EFTA states (including Austria) in 1994 and Austria’s accession to the EU in 1995.
European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) praised Delors as a “great European”. “He shaped European integration like no other in his ten years as President of the EU Commission and initiated important milestones, such as the internal market and the monetary union. His legacy lives on,” Edtstadler told the APA on Wednesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron described Delors on Platform X as a “fighter for human justice.” Numerous former and current EU leaders bowed to Delors. “With the death of Jacques Delors, the European Union has lost a giant,” wrote EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola on “Generations of Europeans are benefiting from his legacy,” emphasized the conservative politician. The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and the former EU commissioner Michel Barnier made similar statements. Former Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso praised Delors as an “extraordinary leader.” “He linked the ‘small steps’ of European integration with the ideal of a united Europe,” said Barroso.
Top Italian politicians also paid tribute to Delors. “With the death of Jacques Delors, we have lost a personality who shaped the process of strengthening Europe on the basis of Christian values,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “We will continue his ideas for a stronger and even more united Europe,” commented the former President of the EU Parliament. Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi described Delors as a “giant of political Europe”, while his successor Enrico Letta said that with Delors modern Europe was losing its father. “We mourn him, we bow before his moral strength and authority, we will continue his ideas with even greater commitment,” said Letta.