19 Facts About Pierre Werner

1.

Pierre Werner was a Luxembourgish politician in the Christian Social People's Party who was the 18th Prime Minister from 1959 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1984.

2.

Pierre Werner was born in Saint-Andre-lez-Lille, Nord, France to parents from Luxembourg.

3.

Pierre Werner studied at the Cours Superieurs de Luxembourg from 1933 to 1934 and continued his higher education at the Law Faculty of the University of Paris and the Ecole libre des sciences politiques from 1934 to 1937.

4.

Pierre Werner was involved in several student organisations, becoming chairman of the Association of Catholic Students from 1935 to 1937 and vice-president of the Pax Romana movement in 1937.

5.

Pierre Werner attended the Bretton Woods conference which set up the International Monetary Fund.

6.

Pierre Werner was appointed as Finance Minister of Luxembourg in 1953, and was 19th and 21st Prime Minister from 1959 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1984.

7.

Pierre Werner was instrumental in solving the "empty chair" crisis provoked in 1965 by President Charles de Gaulle who, dissatisfied with the orientations of European integration at that time, had decided France would suspend its participation in meetings with other Member States; Pierre Werner persuaded France to resume its seat, thus re-enabling the decision-making process.

8.

In 1970, Pierre Werner was given the mandate by the heads of State or government to draft, with a group of experts, a blueprint for an economic and monetary union within the EEC.

9.

Pierre Werner's report advocated gradual reforms, the irreversible fixing of exchange rates, and the introduction of a single currency within a decade.

10.

Pierre Werner placed Luxembourg on the map of global satellite communications.

11.

Pierre Werner is remembered for having used "tripartite" social mediation to overcome the severe steel crisis which lasted from 1979 to 1984.

12.

Pierre Werner placed the process of European integration at the centre of the policy of his country.

13.

The Pierre Werner Institute was created in Luxembourg in 2003 at the behest of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Luxembourg, the project having been fostered by Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, then Minister for Culture, Universities and Research in Luxembourg.

14.

Pierre Werner died on 24 June 2002, in Luxembourg City.

15.

Pierre Werner served as 'President of the Government' from 1959 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1984.

16.

Pierre Werner was a member of parliament and leader of the CSV from 1974 to 1979.

17.

Pierre Werner placed Luxembourg on the map of global satellite communications.

18.

Pierre Werner worked hard both within Luxembourg and abroad to realise his vision for a medium-power satellite in Luxembourg, enabling his country to become a forerunner in global satellite telecommunications.

19.

Pierre Werner was a member of the National Ethics Committee of Luxembourg.