Tributes continued to flow on Thursday for the former European Commission head Jacques Delors, whose death was announced on Wednesday.
Delors' daughter, Martine Aubry, said her father had died in his sleep in his Paris home on Wednesday evening. He was 98.
Ursula von der Leyen, a successor to Delors as president of the European Commission, described him on social media as a visionary who made Europe stronger.
Jacques Delors était un visionnaire qui a rendu notre Europe plus forte.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 27, 2023
L’œuvre de sa vie est une Union européenne unie, dynamique et prospère.
Elle a façonné des générations entières d’Européens, dont la mienne.
Honorons son héritage en renouvelant sans cesse notre Europe.
"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 US secretary of state Anthony Blinken echoed the eulogy.
"He transformed Europe by tirelessly serving the idea of a united and free Europe," said Blinken on Thursday.
The world has lost a visionary statesman. Former European Commission President Jacques Delors transformed Europe through tireless service to the idea of a Europe whole and free. We honor his legacy through enduring belief in this vision and the strength of our transatlantic bond.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) December 28, 2023
"We honor his legacy through enduring belief in this vision and the strength of our transatlantic bond."
Charles Michel , the president of the European Council, was among the first to pay tribute to Delors as one of the builders of modern Europe.
French president Emmanuel Macron also hailed a statesman of French destiny and an inexhaustible architect of our Europe.
Homme d’État au destin français.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 27, 2023
Inépuisable artisan de notre Europe.
Combattant pour la justice humaine.
Jacques Delors était tout cela.
Son engagement, son idéal et sa droiture nous inspireront toujours. Je salue son œuvre et sa mémoire et partage la peine de ses proches. pic.twitter.com/3D5FBvdduh
"His achievements were many," said Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank
The President of the European Parliament, Italy's Roberta Metsola, and the EU's head of diplomacy, Spain's Josep Borrell, both described Delors as a giant.
"Generations of Europeans will continue to benefit from his legacy," said Metsola.
Borrell added: "He thus joins the pantheon of great people that Europe has produced and whose legacy we must live up to."
Jacques Delors est mort. L'Europe vient de perdre l'un de ses géants. Il aura façonné le destin de l’EU par la puissance de ses convictions et la rigueur de son action. Il entre ainsi dans le Panthéon des grands que l'Europe a produit et dont nous nous devons d'assumer l'héritage
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) December 27, 2023
A Socialist at heart, Delors had a high-profile political career in France, then headed the European Commission from 1985 to 1995, a decade that saw significant steps in the bloc's integration.
These included the creation of the common market, the Schengen accords for travel, the Erasmus programme for student exchanges and the creation of the single currency, the euro.
His drive for more links within the continent was met with resistance in some member countries, especially in Britain under prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
"Up Yours Delors" read a famous 1990 front-page headline in The Sun newspaper, voicing concerns about a single currency and increased powers for the European parliament.
Rise
Born on 20 July 1925, Delors started out working at the Banque de France in 1945, like his father, studying economics while working.
A practicing Catholic, he became involved in trade unionism at the French Confederation of Christian Workers (CFTC), which propelled him to the Economic and Social Council and then to the General Planning Commission.
Minister of Economy and Finance for only three years between May 1981 and July 1984, under the presidency of François Mitterrand, according to most experts he influenced the French economic policy more than many ministers.
He declined to run for president in 1995 despite being overwhelmingly ahead in the polls, a decision he later put down to "a desire for independence that was too great".
Delors later founded think tanks with the aim of furthering European federalism, including Institut Delors, and in recent years warned of the dangers of populism in Europe.
In 2011, he was named by a panel of French people as having been the best finance leader of the previous three decades.
(with AFP)
