Jacques Delors, the French economist and statesman who served as president of the European Commission and helped define and shape the European Union, died on March 16, 2021. He was 98.
Delors was a pivotal figure in the emergence of the EU as an economic, political, and cultural powerhouse. He served as president of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995 and later as an adviser to the European Union. His immense accomplishments included helping ensure monetary stability among the EU’s Member States, as well as making the union a more vocal actor on the global stage.
Delors’ political career began in the 1960s, when he served in France’s Senate, followed by a four-year period as minister of finance. President François Mitterrand appointed him European Commission president in 1985, making him the first non-Italian in the job in more than a decade. Delors quickly made an imprint on the organization, helping negotiate the Single European Act of 1986, which paved the way for a single market unrestricted by trade barriers.
Delors is remembered for his staunch defense of European integration. He believed in the power of cooperation and compromise to make the EU stronger, arguing that, “building Europe is a very slow process. But it’s a process of convergence, of dialogue and of consultation.”
His dedication to Europe extended beyond his time in office. In his later years, he continued to advocate for a strong and united EU. He is remembered not only for his accomplishments as president of the European Commission but also as a passionate defender of European integration.
