He was the architect of many of the most important EU developments in recent years, including the relaunch of the Single Market - which he wanted to complement with a social dimension, and the setting up of the European and Monetary Union.
A fervent European with a strong political nous, he adopted a pragmatic approach, advancing integration through the strength of his ideas.
He visited the Institute early in his first mandate, on the occasion of the EUI’s tenth anniversary, when Florence was chosen as the second ever European Capital of Culture. Throughout the remainder of his tenure Delors benefited from intellectual exchanges with EUI scholars, remaining a strong supporter of the Institute also after leaving office in the mid-nineties. Indeed, through the research centre that bears his name, Delors continued to offer a vision for Europe for decades, and visited the EUI again in the early noughties to discuss some of his ideas. He was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa from the EUI in 2012.
A towering figure of European integration, Delors’ legacy will endure through the policymakers and intellectuals that he inspired. The European University Institute offers its condolences to his family and friends.
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© Communautés européennes 1985