The former president of the European Commission Jacques Delors (1985-1994) has died this Wednesday at 98 years oldas announced to French media by his daughter, the former socialist minister and current mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry. Minister of Economy in the first Government led by the socialist François MitterrandDelors represented a centrist wing of the French Socialist Party. Throughout his political career, he vindicated his Catholic convictions and his union experience in his youth.

In 1985 he replaced the Luxembourger Gaston Thorn as head of the Community Executive. position he held until 1994. In December of that year, one of the gestures that have marked his political biography occurred, when he announced that he was giving up the race for the Elysée the following year despite the fact that he was one of the big favorites in the polls. A gesture that, justified by personal reasons such as his age, but also by the political situation – he believed that a part of his party would not support him – in practice, meant his departure from the board and the end of his career. He is 69 years old.

In Brussels, Delors proved to be a key figure in advancing European integration. One of the great symbols of it was the creation in 1987 of the Erasmus program, of which millions of students have benefited since then. That same year, the Single European Act came into force, which was the culmination of the single market and the resulting free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

The EU mourns his death: “He was a visionary”

“He was a visionary who made our Europe stronger. His life’s work is a united, dynamic and prosperous European Union. It has shaped entire generations of Europeans, including mine. Let us honor his legacy by constantly renewing our Europe,” the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wrote in remarkable intelligence and incomparable humanity.”

“Throughout his life he was a tireless defender of cooperation between European nations and then of the development of European identity,” said the German conservative, who added that Delors’ presidency was characterized by “for a deep commitment to freedomsocial justice and solidarity, values ​​now rooted in our Union”.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, highlighted on platform the euro”. “Great French and great Europeangoes down in history as one of the builders of our Europe,” said the Belgian liberal politician.