born July 20, 1925, Paris, Fr.
French statesman.
In 1962 he left his position in banking for a series of government positions, including minister of economics and finance. As president of the European Commission (EC) from 1985 to 1995, he pushed through reforms and persuaded the member states to agree to the creation of a single market in 1993, the first step toward full economic and political integration in the European Union . When his term expired, he was considered a leading contender for the French presidency, but he declined to run.