Valery Giscard dEstang Biography and Timeline

President of France

Appointed President of France

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Youngest President

Youngest head of State in France since Louis Napoleon, 1848

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Nuclear Power

France performs nuclear tests at Muruora Island

Role range: 1974-1981

European Council Creation

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

Role range: 1974-1981

Summit

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

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Direct Elections Agreement

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

Role range: 1974-1981

Regional Development Fund Agreement

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

Role range: 1974-1981

First European Council Meeting

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

Role range: 1974-1981

CSCE

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

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Declaration of Helsinki

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

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Politics

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

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Treaty of Helsinki

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

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Declaration of Helsinki

Participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms

Role range: 1974-1981

Politics

Participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms

Role range: 1974-1981

European Monetary System Initiative

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

Role range: 1974-1981

European Monetary System Agreement

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

Role range: 1974-1981

European Monetary System Launch

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

Role range: 1974-1981

Election

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

Role range: 1958- – 1974-1981

Convention Chair Selection

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

European Convention Opens

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

Role range: 2002-2003

European Convention Chairmanship

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

Draft European Constitution

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

Role range: 2002-2003

Constitution of France

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

Constitution of France

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

European Convention

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

Constitution of France

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

European Convention

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

Constitution of France

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

Constitution of France

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

Constitution of France

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

Referendum

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