Jacques Poos
Jacques Poos | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jacques François Poos 3 June 1935 Luxembourg |
| Died | 19 February 2022 (aged 86) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, Economist |
| Years active | 1964–2004 |
| Known for | Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Presidency of the Council of the European Union |
Jacques François Poos (3 June 1935 – 19 February 2022) was a prominent Luxembourgish politician affiliated with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP).
Early life and education
Poos was born in Luxembourg in 1935 and pursued a career in economics, obtaining his doctorate from the University of Lausanne in 1961.
Career in politics
A dedicated member of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party, Poos held the position of director and editor-in-chief at the daily newspaper Tageblatt in Esch-sur-Alzette from 1964 until 1976, concurrently serving on the local town council.
In July 1976, he was appointed Minister of Finance. Throughout his tenure as Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Poos presided over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during three separate six-month periods in 1985, 1991, and 1997. He fulfilled the roles of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Development under Prime Ministers Jacques Santer (1984–1995) and Jean-Claude Juncker (1995–1999).
Poos played a pivotal role in negotiating the Brioni Agreement in 1991, which brought an end to the Ten-Day War in Slovenia. Upon commencing these negotiations, he notably declared, "The hour of Europe has dawned."
European Parliament
In 1999, Poos was elected as a Member of the European Parliament where he contributed to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy. He significantly influenced the drafting process related to Cyprus' accession to the EU. In recognition of his work, Panteion University of Athens awarded him an honorary doctorate in law in 2003.
Retirement and death
After retiring from active politics in 2004, Poos continued to serve as a non-executive director on several national and international boards. He died on 19 February 2022 at the age of 86.