Former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, has died, his daughter Martine Aubry announced 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 biggest 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.
“He died in his sleep this morning at his home in Paris,” socialist politician Aubry said 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 assuming 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 controls personal property and property in the then European Economic Community (EEC), the elimination of state monopolies and tax barriers to cross-border competition.
To implement these measures, the Single European Act (EEA) was adopted in 1986 by the then twelve members of the EC. Six years later, another important integration step followed with the Maastricht Treaty, which provided for the introduction of a common currency. Delors' tenure 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 European Commission and initiated important milestones such as the internal market and monetary union. His legacy lives on,” Edtstadler told APA on Wednesday. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen described Delors as an “important builder of a united Europe”. “Like no other, he influenced the development of European integration and, with the internal market, created a unifying link for the European community of states,” Van der Bellen wrote in Network X.
EU leaders bowed to the legendary Commission President. The current head of the Brussels authority, Ursula von der Leyen, described Delors as a “visionary who made Europe stronger”. “He shaped entire generations of Europeans, including mine”, emphasized the conservative politician on platform X. “With the death of Jacques Delors, the European Union is losing a giant”, also wrote the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in X. As Commission President and EU MEP, he worked tirelessly for a united Europe. “Generations of Europeans are benefiting from his legacy”, emphasized the Christian Democrat. EU Council President Charles Michel also described Delors on X as “one of the architects of our Europe”. “Jacques Delors led the transformation of the European economic community into a true union, based on human values and supported by the internal market and a common currency, the euro”, wrote the liberal politician.
Socialist EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and former conservative French EU commissioner Michel Barnier have made similar statements. Former Commission President José Manuel Barroso praised Delors as an “extraordinary leader”. “He linked the 'small steps' of European integration to the ideal of a united Europe,” said Durão Barroso. French President Emmanuel Macron described Delors on X as a “fighter for human justice”.
Top Italian politicians also paid tribute to Delors. “With the death of Jacques Delors, we lost a personality who shaped the process of strengthening Europe based on 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 European 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 his death, we bow before his moral strength and authority, we will continue his ideas with an even greater commitment,” said Letta.