A national tribute ceremony to honor the life and accomplishments of Jacques Delors, who passed away late December at the age of 98, was presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron at the historic Hôtel des Invalides. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Charles MICHEL, President of the European Council and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission were present at the ceremony.
In the communication which was given out by the Europeean Commission we can read:
„With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to one of the architects of our European Union – Jacques Delors, a man deeply committed to a united and peaceful Europe. His legacy lives on in the EU as we know it, with a vibrant single market and a strong common currency. To honour his legacy, let us keep working as a community of destiny towards an ever-stronger Union, filled with our collective soul.
Jacques Delors, a distinguished statesman and visionary, has devoted his life to European integration. As President of the European Commission, he breathed new life into the European Union and made a significant contribution to its development.
His enlightened leadership and unwavering commitment to European integration have left their mark on the history of our continent. His innovative ideas and his ability to bring together different political sensibilities enabled decisive steps to be taken in the construction of a united and prosperous Europe.
Jacques Delors will forever remain a model of dedication and vision for future generations. His legacy will live on and continue to inspire those working for a better future for Europe. We pay tribute to him for his exceptional contribution to the building of Europe and for embodying the values of solidarity, cooperation and openness that lie at the heart of our common project”.
