Jacques Delors Biography and Timeline

Commission Presidency Selection

European leaders selected Delors to succeed Gaston Thorn as President of the European Commission.

Role range: 1985-1995

Delors Commission Takes Office

The first Delors Commission took office with completion of the internal market among its central objectives.

Role range: 1985-1995

Internal Market Programme

Delors made completion of the internal market a defining priority of his new Commission.

Role range: 1985-1995

Iberian Accession Treaties

Delors welcomed the accession treaties for Spain and Portugal as a major expansion of democratic Europe.

Role range: 1985-1995

White Paper on Internal Market

The Commission presented its White Paper setting out measures needed to complete the internal market by 1992.

Role range: 1985-1995

Delors Commission

Jacques Delors began his presidency of the European Commission, launching a decade of major initiatives for deeper European integration.

Role range: 1985-1995

Delors Commission

The Delors Commission oversaw a large degree of expansion. The membership of Spain and Portugal came first in 1985; then the fall of the Berlin Wall enabled the Reunification of Germany; and in 1995 came the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. The Delors Commission also prepared the opening to the eastern countries who later joined in 2004

Spain and Portugal Join Communities

Delors welcomed Spain and Portugal as Community members, expanding the European Communities to twelve states.

Role range: 1985-1995

Delors Commission

The Delors Commission accelerated completion of the single market and strengthened plans for economic and monetary union.

Role range: 1985-1995

European Flag

Under Delors, the European Communities adopted the European flag for institutional use in 1986.

Role range: 1985-1995

Single European Act

The Single European Act expanded Community powers and provided the legal framework for completing the internal market.

Role range: 1985-1995

Single Market Legislative Programme

Delors pressed governments to implement the legislative programme required for a border-free internal market.

Role range: 1985-1995

Committee of Regions

The Delors Commission was also responsible for the creation of the Committee of the Regions, having enshrined the idea of cohesion between EU states and regions in the SEA in 1986 leading Delors to propose the body in 1992

Delors Commission

The Delors Commission gave a new momentum to the process of European integration. They 'completed' the internal market and laid the foundations for the single European currency. European Economic and Monetary Union was based on the three stage plan drawn up by a committee headed by Delors (the Delors Report)

Delors Report

The Delors Commission gave a new momentum to the process of European integration. They 'completed' the internal market and laid the foundations for the single European currency. European Economic and Monetary Union was based on the three stage plan drawn up by a committee headed by Delors (the Delors Report)

European Flag

Commission President Jacques Delors presided over the adoption of the European flag by the Communities

Legislation

The first major revision of the treaties since the Merger Treaty, leaders signed the Single European Act in February 1986. The text dealt with institutional reform, including extension of community powers 'g in particular in regarding foreign policy. It was a major component in completing the single market

Single European Act

The first major revision of the treaties since the Merger Treaty, leaders signed the Single European Act in February 1986. The text dealt with institutional reform, including extension of community powers 'g in particular in regarding foreign policy. It was a major component in completing the single market

Erasmus Programme Launch

The Erasmus programme began during the Delors Commission, supporting student mobility across participating European countries.

Role range: 1985-1995

Single European Act Enters Force

The Single European Act entered into force, strengthening Community powers and the legal basis for the internal market.

Role range: 1985-1995

Delors I Budget Package

Delors secured a multi-year budget and reform package that gave the Community greater financial stability.

Role range: 1985-1995

EMU Committee Chairmanship

European leaders asked Delors to chair a committee examining practical steps toward economic and monetary union.

Role range: 1985-1995

TUC Speech

Delors addressed the British Trades Union Congress and argued for a European social dimension alongside market integration.

Role range: 1985-1995

TUC Speech

Delors addressed the British Trade Union Congress. His speech about a social Europe was pivotal in turning British Labour pro-European and the British Conservatives against it

Three-Stage Monetary Union Plan

The Delors Committee recommended a three-stage route to Economic and Monetary Union.

Role range: 1985-1995

Report

Publication of the Delors Report into further EU monetary & economic union

Delors Report

The Delors Report proposed a three-stage process for achieving European Economic and Monetary Union.

Role range: 1985-1995

Report

Publication of the Delors Report into further EU monetary & economic union

EMU Stage One

The first stage of Economic and Monetary Union began under the programme developed by the Delors Committee.

Role range: 1985-1995

German Unification and Community Law

The former East Germany entered the European Community framework through German reunification during Delors's Commission presidency.

Role range: 1985-1995

Economic and Monetary Union

Delors promoted the staged programme for economic and monetary union agreed by European leaders.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1985-1995

Economic and Monetary Union

Promotes the staged programme leading toward economic and monetary union.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1985-1995

Maastricht European Council

Delors supported the Maastricht settlement on deeper political and economic integration.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1985-1995

Maastricht European Council

Supports agreement on deeper political and economic integration.

Role range: 1991-1993 – 1985-1995

Maastricht Monetary Union Settlement

Delors supported agreement on treaty provisions establishing the route toward a single European currency.

Role range: 1985-1995

Single Market Completion Programme

The Delors Commission completed most legislation required for the single market to begin in 1993.

Role range: 1985-1995

Committee of Regions

The Delors Commission supported stronger regional cohesion and the treaty framework that led to creation of the Committee of the Regions.

Role range: 1985-1995

Single Market Launch

The European single market began with free movement goals covering goods, services, people and capital.

Role range: 1985-1995

Growth Competitiveness Employment White Paper

The Delors Commission proposed a European strategy linking competitiveness, employment and economic modernisation.

Role range: 1985-1995

European Economic Area Launch

The European Economic Area extended much of the single market to participating EFTA countries.

Role range: 1985-1995