Brussels, 27/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on 26 August, the European Commission paid homage to its former president between 1981-85, Gaston Thorn, who died on the same day at the age of 78. On the previous day, the Commission expressed its sadness at learning of the death of one of its former members, Raymond Barre.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso declared, “Gaston Thorn was a great European who was aware that European cooperation was the only way ahead for both confronting the challenges of its era and those of the 21st century”. Barroso added that, “his work as president of the Commission was consolidated on the basis of the European project and created new routes towards integration”. Before becoming Commission president, Thorn, was prime minister in Luxembourg between 1974-79 and foreign affairs minister between 1969-79. The Commissioner for information society and the media, Viviane Reding indicated, “Whether it was at the Luxembourg government, the presidency of the General Assembly of the United Nations or at the head of the European Commission, Gaston Thorn knew how to use his abilities as a speaker and his international prestige to put Europe in the front row. Europe needed this. It was a difficult time where Euro-stagnation and scepticism about the common destiny of Europeans was all pervasive”. The current Luxembourg prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker welcomed the intelligence, energy and “great political foresight” of Gaston Thorn and described him as, “the right person in the right place at the right time”.
Commission vice president between 1967-73 and in charge of economic and financial affairs, Raymond Barre passed away on 25 August at the age of 83. Mr Barroso highlighted, “the great contribution brought by Mr Barre to European construction” and his conviction, competence and experience which, “always led him to see national political life as sharing the spirit of idealism, demands and opportunities of Europe”. Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs said that, “Raymond Barre helped put Europe on the road towards Economic and Monetary Union with the Euro”. Almunia also said that Barre realised that this economic and monetary union was both important for the economic development affecting the people of Europe but also for helping promote its influence in the world. Jacques Barrot, Commissioner for transport underlined the intellectual honesty of Barre when he was prime minister of France between 1976 and 1981 when he also performed the role of minister of the economy and finance between 1976-78. (ab)