Former European Commission Pres. Jacques Delors Dead at 98

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Facts

• Jacques Delors, former European Commission (EC) president considered a founding father of the modern European Union (EU), passed away on Wednesday at age 98, according to a statement released by his family.¹
• After serving as a finance minister under French Pres. Francois Mitterrand from 1981 to 1984, he served for ten years as head of the EU's European Commission from 1985 to 1995, making major strides to further European integration.²
• Under his tenure, Delors spearheaded the creation of the single market, the introduction of the euro, and an increased membership from 10 to 15 countries. In 1993, he oversaw the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, which formally created the EU.³
• Other career highlights include the creation of the Schengen Zone, which eliminated many border checks between EU member states, the Erasmus student exchange program, and the Common Agricultural Policy.⁴
• His advocacy for a federalized Europe faced stiff opposition in the UK, with Delors often sparring with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over increasing the EU's power. In a 2007 interview, Delors warned that the EU could disintegrate in 20 years unless it reformed.⁵
• Tributes to Delors came from figures such as French Pres. Emmanuel Macron, who called Delors the 'Inexhaustible craftsman of our Europe,' EC Pres. Ursula von der Leyen, European Council Pres. Charles Michel, and EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell.⁶

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²France 24, ³Bloomberg, ⁴Euronews, ⁵reuters.com and ⁶POLITICO.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by France 24. From the free movement of goods, people, and a common currency, Jacques Delors forged a new Europe based on the principles of cooperation, democracy, and liberty. His life's work has made Europe a more secure, prosperous place, and serves as an example of what a united Europe is capable of accomplishing. In the aftermath of Brexit, the migrant crisis, and the War in Ukraine, European leaders could learn much from Delors's singular vision and exemplary leadership.
• Narrative B, as provided by FEE. Delors was the architect of a doomed European project, and much of what ails the Union can be traced back to policies that he championed. Delors promoted a sprawling, centralized, federal EU that has seemingly failed to rise to any of the most pressing challenges facing the continent. Sadly, he lived to see his life's work tarnished by ineffective governance and a rise in nationalism across Europe, as what little enthusiasm for European integration remains slowly fizzles out.

Predictions