Pierre Werner

Pierre Werner
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
In office
16 July 1979  20 July 1984
Monarch Jean
Preceded by Gaston Thorn
Succeeded by Jacques Santer
In office
2 March 1959  15 June 1974
Monarch Charlotte
Jean
Preceded by Pierre Frieden
Succeeded by Gaston Thorn
Personal details
Born 29 December 1913
Saint-André-lez-Lille, France
Died 24 June 2002
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Political party Christian Social People's
Religion Roman Catholicism

Pierre Werner (29 December 1913 – 24 June 2002) was a Luxembourg politician. Pierre Werner was born in Saint-André-lez-Lille, Nord, France to parents from Luxembourg.

Training and early activities

He studied at the Cours Supérieurs de Luxembourg (a forerunner to the University of Luxembourg) from 1933 to 1934 and continued his higher education at the Law Faculty of the University of Paris and the École libre des sciences politiques from 1934 to 1937. In 1938, he completed a PhD in Law in Luxembourg. He was involved in several student organisations, becoming vice-president of the Pax Romana movement (The International Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs) in 1937.

During the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg (1940–45) Werner, working as a banker, gave clandestine support to the resistance against the occupation forces. After World War II he became the Controller of the banking system in his country. He attended the Bretton Woods conference which set up the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Werner was appointed as Finance Minister of Luxembourg in 1953, and was 19th and 21st Prime Minister from 1959 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1984. He also served as Minister for Culture.

As Prime minister, Werner, a Christian Democrat, undertook the diversification of the national economy, hard hit by a major Europe-wide crisis in the steel industry, by attracting new industrial investments, as well as financial services to the Grand Duchy. He placed Luxembourg on the map of global satellite communications. He is remembered for having used "tripartite" social mediation (industry, labour and government) to overcome the severe steel crisis which lasted from 1979 to 1984. He placed the process of European integration at the centre of the policy of his country. With friends such as Joseph Bech, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, Werner was a determined advocate of European integration. During his terms in office, he negotiated the relocation of several European institutions to Luxembourg.

Werner was instrumental in solving the "empty chair" crisis provoked in 1965 by President Charles de Gaulle who, dissatisfied with the orientations of European integration at that time, had decided France would suspend its participation in meetings with other Member States; Werner persuaded France to resume its seat, thus re-enabling the decision-making process. In 1970, Werner was given the mandate by the heads of State or government to draft, with a group of experts, a blueprint for an economic and monetary union within the EEC. The “Werner Plan” was later revived and extended by Jacques Delors. Its principles were enshrined in the Treaty of Maastricht, paving the way for the single European currency, i.e. the euro.

The Pierre Werner Institute (Institut Pierre Werner, IPW) was created in Luxembourg in 2003 at the behest of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Luxembourg (at the time, respectively Dominique de Villepin, Joschka Fischer and Lydie Polfer), the project having been fostered by Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, then Minister for Culture, Universities and Research in Luxembourg. IPW organises seminars and conferences aimed at promoting better understanding among the three founding countries, but also more widely throughout Europe.

Werner, a sponsor of culture and especially music, actively promoted the restoration of Luxembourg's heritage (e.g. Vianden Castle). A keen fan of cricket since living in London, the United Kingdom, in 1930, Werner was Honorary President of the Optimists Cricket Club, which he promoted during, between, and after his premierships.[1] In his honour, Luxembourg's main cricket ground, the Pierre Werner Cricket Ground in Walferdange, is named after him.

Pierre Werner died on 24 June 2002, in Luxembourg City.

Political responsibilities

Pierre Werner served as 'President of the Government' (Prime Minister) from 1959 to 1947 and from 1979 to 1984.
On each occasion this post was combined with several ministerial portfolios :

Werner was a member of parliament and leader of the CSV from 1974 to 1979. During this period he was the leader of the parliamentary opposition. In 1979 the CSV won the parliamentary elections in Luxembourg. At this time, Pierre werner was also elected to the European Parliament but he chose not to sit as an MEP, to serve as President of the Government.

Others activities

After withdrawing from politics in 1984, Pierre Werner continued to assume some official duties and pursue cultural activities. From 1985 to 1987, he was Chairman of the Governing Board of the Compagnie luxembourgeoise de télédiffusion (CLT, Radio Luxembourg). Werner placed Luxembourg on the map of global satellite communications. From 1989 to 1996, he was Chairman of the board directors of the Société européenne des satellites, becoming Honorary chairman in 1996. During this last term of office, he had laid the ground for the establishment of this company. He worked hard both within Luxembourg [2] and abroad to realise his vision for a medium-power satellite in Luxembourg, enabling his country to become a forerunner in global satellite telecommunications.[3]

Pierre Werner was also a member of the National Ethics Committee of Luxembourg.

Notes and references

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pierre Werner.
Political offices
Preceded by
Joseph Bech
Minister for Defence
1953–1959
Succeeded by
Eugène Schaus
Preceded by
Pierre Dupong
Minister for Finances
1953–1974
Succeeded by
Raymond Vouel
Preceded by
Victor Bodson
Minister for Justice
1953–1967
Succeeded by
Jean Dupong
Preceded by
Pierre Frieden
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
1st time

1959–1974
Succeeded by
Gaston Thorn
Preceded by
Eugène Schaus
Minister for Foreign Affairs
1964–1967
Succeeded by
Pierre Grégoire
Preceded by
Gaston Thorn
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
2nd time

1979–1984
Succeeded by
Jacques Santer