Former European Commission President Jacques Delors dies at 98

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Former European Commission President Jacques Delors died in his sleep at his home in Paris on Wednesday at the age of 98, French media reported.

Delors, an advocate for the creation of the European Single Market, played a key role in negotiating the Single European Act of 1986, which aimed to remove barriers to trade, capital and labor across the European Union. He also notably advocated for the creation of the euro.

He also served as French finance minister from 1981-1984.

Delors' legacy extends beyond his national borders as he served as president of the European Commission from 1985-1995. His tenure was marked by a commitment to European unity and cooperation, which sometimes brought him into conflict with then-Prime Minister of the UK, Margaret Thatcher.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Delors as an "inexhaustible architect of our Europe" and a relentless advocate for human justice.