Giscard d`Estaing, Valéry (1926 - )
- Valery Giscard d'Estaing (Photo: European Commission)
President of France from 1974 to 1981, was President of the Convention on the future of Europe which established the draft EU Constitution. After referendums with No majorities in France and the Netherlands in 2005 the Constitution was re-drafted to the Lisbon Treaty. Giscard d`Estaing talked about the same text in a „new envelope”.
As French President he introduced the European Council as an EU institution. He also worked closely with the German socialist chancellor Helmut Schmidt to promote the Economic and Monetary Union and introduced the European Legal Area.
He was chairman, for eight years, of the international European Movement.
In December 2001, he was appointed President of the European Convention.
As a MEP, Giscard d`Estaing was Leader of the Liberal group in the European Parliament from 1989. He then joined the Christian Democrats in the EPP in 1991.
In 2009 he published a book about "The Princess and the President" suggesting a link between a French President and a British Princess.
Links
http://european-convention.eu.......idium.asp?lang=EN&Content=
