Valery Giscard dEstang Biography

Appointed President of France

Youngest head of State in France since Louis Napoleon, 1848

France performs nuclear tests at Muruora Island

Giscard hosted the Paris summit that created the European Council as a regular forum for national leaders.

Hosts the EC Paris Summit. Declares Heads of State should meet more frequently

Giscard supported the decision to move toward direct elections to the European Parliament.

At the Paris summit, Giscard supported creation of a Community fund to reduce regional economic disparities.

Giscard represented France at the first meeting of the newly created European Council in Dublin.

Declaration of Helsinki establishes the Conf on Security & Co-operation in Europe

The Declaration establishes the Conference on Security & Co-operation in Europe. Participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. Declaration of Helsinki establishes the Conf on Security & Co-operation in Europe

Participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms

The Declaration covers human rights. Participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms

Participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms

The Declaration establishes the Conference on Security & Co-operation in Europe. The Declaration covers human rights

Giscard worked with Helmut Schmidt to advance plans for the European Monetary System.

European leaders agreed the framework for the European Monetary System, strongly promoted by Giscard.

France entered the European Monetary System, designed to stabilise exchange rates among participating Community currencies.

Defeated by Mitterand in the 2nd round of the Presidential election

European leaders selected former French President Giscard dEstang to chair the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Former French President Valery Giscard dEstang chaired the Convention on the Future of Europe, established after the Laeken Declaration.

Giscard dEstang opened the Convention on the Future of Europe as its chairman.

Giscard dEstang presented the Convention's draft constitutional treaty to European leaders.

The European Convention is established, presided over by former French President Valery Giscard dEstaing, and was given the task of consulting as widely as possible across Europe with the aim of producing a first draft of the Constitution

The European Convention is established, presided over by former French President Valery Giscard dEstaing, and was given the task of consulting as widely as possible across Europe with the aim of producing a first draft of the Constitution

The Constitution, having been agreed by heads of Government from the 25 Member States, is signed at a ceremony in Rome

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed in Rome by the governments of the European Union member states.

The Constitution, having been agreed by heads of Government from the 25 Member States, is signed at a ceremony in Rome

Referendums held in France and The Netherlands reject the European Constitution. While the majority of the Member States already had ratified the European Constitution (mostly through Parliamentary ratification, although Spain and Luxembourg held referendums), due to the requirement of unanimity to amend the treaties of the EU, it became clear that it could not enter into force

Referendums held in France and The Netherlands reject the European Constitution. While the majority of the Member States already had ratified the European Constitution (mostly through Parliamentary ratification, although Spain and Luxembourg held referendums), due to the requirement of unanimity to amend the treaties of the EU, it became clear that it could not enter into force

French voters rejected the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in the referendum held on 29 May 2005.

Negotiations to modify EU institutions began in 2001, resulting first in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, which would have repealed the existing European treaties and replaced them with a "constitution". Although ratified by a majority of member states, this was abandoned after being rejected by 54.67% of French voters on 29 May 2005