Jacques Delors forged his vision of a united Europe. He was an ardent advocate of post-war European integration and architect of the European Union we know today. He served as President of the European Commission for three terms, from January 1985 until the end of 1994 – a period marked by a deep commitment to freedom, social justice and solidarity – values now rooted in our Union.
Jacques Delors died on 27 December 2023 at the age of 98.
The Commission’s tribute to Jacques Delors
President Ursula von der Leyen and other high-level guests commemorated this great European, who shaped Europe and greatly contributed to the European project, on 31 January 2024.
Jacques Delors was a visionary who made Europe stronger. His work had a profound impact on the lives of generations of Europeans, including my own. We are deeply grateful to him.
Jacques Delors' main accomplishments
As President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors managed to advance the European Union project thanks to his vision and dedication.
Here are just a few of the biggest accomplishments part of his legacy.
The world's biggest single market, ensuring free movement of goods, services, capital and persons
European citizenship, common foreign and security policy, co-decision legislative procedure, foundation of the euro and birth to "European Union"
Coordination of economic and fiscal policies, a common monetary policy, and a common currency, the euro
Yearly, more than 650,000 students, apprentices, pupils, volunteers and teachers engage in study, training, teaching and volunteering
Au revoir Président: EU tribute to Jacques Delors
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission 
Jean-Louis Brochen, husband of Martine Aubry, Martine Aubry, daughter of Jacques Delors and Mayor of Lille, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission (from left to right) 
European Ceremony of Honour for Jacques Delors with Alexander De Croo, Belgian Prime Minister, at the podium 
The Erasmus Orchestra during the European Ceremony of Honour for Jacques Delors 
European Ceremony of Honour for Jacques Delors with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at the podium 
European Ceremony of Honour for Jacques Delors / Cérémonie d'Hommage européen à Jacques Delors 
Jacques Delors ceremony, highlights of the commemoration
National Tribute Ceremony for Jacques Delors
President von der Leyen attended the tribute ceremony for Jacques Delors in Paris, on 5 January 2024.
From left to right,in the 1st row: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in the 2nd row: Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Nikolai Denkov, Bulgarian Prime Minister, and Andrej Plenković, Croatian Prime Minister 
National Tribute Ceremony for Jacques Delors 
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal President of Germany, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, Nikolai Denkov, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, Croatian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, Hungarian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, Belgian Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister, Robert Golob, Slovenian Prime Minister, and Luc Frieden, Luxembourgish Prime Minister (from left to right in the 1st row) 
National Tribute Ceremony for Jacques Delors 
National Tribute Ceremony for Jacques Delors
