EMU - historic figures

Jean Monnet

Jean Monnet is regarded by many as the architect of the European unity.

 

Robert Schuman

On 9 May 1950 Robert Schuman invited Germany to jointly manage their coal and steel industries. This formed the basis of the European Coal and Steel Community, which eventually evolved into the European Union.

 

Pierre Werner

In 1960 Werner, who was then Prime Minister of Luxembourg, first advocated a European currency – the ‘euror’ – in a speech at Strasbourg. The first plan for monetary union (adopted in 1971) was named after Werner (the Werner Report).

 

Raymond Barre

As Vice-President of the Commission (1967-1972) Barre initiated the plan on economic and monetary union (the Barre Plan).

 

Jacques Delors

As President of the Commission (1985-1995) Delors chaired the Committee of European Central Bank Governors which proposed that economic and monetary union should be achieved in three evolutionary steps (the Delors Report).

 

Alexandre Lamfalussy

First and only president of the European Monetary Institute, precursor of the European Central Bank.

 

Willem Duisenberg

First president of the European Central Bank.