19 Facts About Jacques Delors

Jacques Delors implemented policies that closely linked the member nations together and promoted the need for unity.

Jacques Delors created a single market that made the free movement of persons, capital, goods, and services within the European Economic Community possible.

Jacques Delors headed the Delors Committee, which proposed the monetary union to create the euro, a new single currency to replace individual national currencies.

In 1957, Jacques Delors left the CFDT when he became a high government official to avoid conflicts of interests.

Jacques Delors served in the European Parliament from 1979 to 1981, becoming chairman of its Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, actively taking part in debates about economic, social, and monetary policies.

Under President Francois Mitterrand, Jacques Delors served as Economics and Finance Minister from 1981 to 1983, and Economics, Finance, and Budget Minister from 1983 to 1984.

Jacques Delors advocated a pause in the social policies, a clear acceptance of the market economy, and an alignment with European social democracy.

Jacques Delors became the President of the European Commission in January 1985.

In opposition to the strident neoliberalism of US president Ronald Reagan that dominated the American political agenda, Jacques Delors promoted an alternative interpretation of capitalism that embedded it in the European social structure.

The Jacques Delors presidency is considered to have been the apex of the European Commission's influence on European integration.

In 1994, members of the Socialist Party attempted to persuade Jacques Delors to run for president.

Jacques Delors founded the Paris-based, centre-left think tank Notre Europe in 1996 and remained one of its presidents for the rest of his life.

Jacques Delors was president of the, and an honorary member of both the Institut Aspen France and the Club of Rome.

On 15 September 2010, Jacques Delors supported the new initiative Spinelli Group, which was founded to reinvigorate the striving for federalization of the European Union.

In 2010, Jacques Delors was the first to be given the Leonardo European Corporate Learning Award.

On 25 June 2015, Donald Tusk announced that Jacques Delors would become the third person to have the title of Honorary Citizen of Europe bestowed upon them, in recognition of "his remarkable contribution to the development of the European project".

In March 2024, Jacques Delors was posthumously given a "Special Recognition" award at The Parliament Magazine annual MEP Awards, in recognition of his contributions towards the European project, to mark the awards' 20th anniversary.

Jacques Delors was married to Marie Lephaille until her death in 2020.

Jacques Delors died in his sleep at his home in Paris, on 27 December 2023, aged 98.