The Single European Act, a fundamental shift in the European integration process, was negotiated under the leadership of Jacques Santer during his long tenure as Prime Minister of Luxembourg. Born in 1937 in Wasserbillig, Santer built a career that spanned national government, high-level European administration, and parliamentary service across several decades in Brussels and Luxembourg.
Political Ascension
Educated at institutions including the Athénée de Luxembourg, the University of Strasbourg, and Sciences Po, Santer began his career in law and banking. He entered government service as a junior minister from 1972 to 1974. Between 1979 and 1984, he held the portfolios of Finance, Work, and Social Security under Prime Minister Pierre Werner. In 1984, he succeeded Werner as Prime Minister, leading the Christian Social People's Party in a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party until 1995.
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During his premiership, Santer addressed a 1990 parliamentary inquiry concerning a stay-behind military organization coordinated by NATO and the national intelligence service. He revealed that the group, established in 1959, never possessed more than 12 members. Santer confirmed that he took political responsibility for the dissolution of this network, asserting that the organization was limited to intelligence operations and evasion maneuvers.
European Commission Presidency
In 1995, Santer was appointed President of the European Commission after the British government vetoed Jean-Luc Dehaene. His term proved tumultuous, ending in March 1999 when he and the entire commission resigned following a report by a Committee of Independent Experts. The committee investigated allegations of administrative malpractice and incompetence, concluding that the leadership lacked a sense of responsibility regarding institutional oversight.
Post-Commission Activity
Following his resignation, Santer served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004. He participated in various professional roles, including a position on the board of General Mediterranean Holdings. In 2012, he was appointed to lead the board of the Special Purpose Investment Vehicle tasked with supporting the European Financial Stability Facility. He later became an honorary member of the pro-business organization SME Europe in 2013.
Fast facts
- Born: 1937, Wasserbillig
- Prime Minister of Luxembourg: 1984-1995
- President of the European Commission: 1995-1999
- Education: University of Strasbourg, Sciences Po
- Political Party: Christian Social People's Party
- Languages: French, German, English, Luxembourgish
- Robert Schuman Medal: 1986
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon: 1990
Questions readers ask
Why did Jacques Santer resign as President of the European Commission?
He resigned in 1999 following a report by a Committee of Independent Experts that criticized the commission for administrative failings and a lack of individual responsibility.
What was Santer's role in the Single European Act?
As Prime Minister of Luxembourg, he led the negotiations that resulted in the act, which effectively set aside the existing Luxembourg compromise.
Achievements
- Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1984–1995)
- President of the European Commission (1995–1999)
- Deputy of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg (1979–1995)
- Member of the European Parliament (1999–2004)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
- Robert Schuman Medal — 1986
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
- Educated at University of Strasbourg and University of Amsterdam
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