Biography

• Born on 20th July 1925 in Paris.
• Studied Law and Economics in Paris. Afterwards worked in the civil service; lastly he was Deputy Director of the Bank of France (until 1962). He then became Head of Department in the General Commissariat for Economic Planning (1962–1969). In 1973 he became Professor for Economics at the University of Paris; simultaneously he was a Member of the General Council of the Bank of France until 1979.
• In 1979 he became a Member of the European Parliament for the Socialists, where he headed the Commission for Currency and Economic Issues. In 1981 he took over the office of French Minister of Economics and Finance and from 1983 he also became the Mayor of Clichy.
• From 1985 to 1995 he was President of the European Commission in Brussels. During this time he gave the Community new political objectives and imparted the European integration process new dynamics. His name is closely connected with important European reform projects such as the single market within the Community and the Maastricht Treaty on the European Union (came into force in 1993 amongst other things with a schedule for the introduction of a joint currency). During his term in office the Community was extended to include another five membership states.