Die Europäische Kommission, 1986-2000

Following the Fontainebleau relaunch in 1984 and then the arrival of Jacques Delors, who was able to rely on a reinvigorated relationship between Germany and France, the process of European integration accelerated, with the Commission playing a leading role. Three large-scale projects were launched under Jacques Delors: completion of the internal market; economic and monetary union; and opening up the EU to the countries of central and eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Under Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi the Commission took care to complete these projects or ensure their continuity, leading the preparatory negotiations on the establishment of EMU and the greatest enlargement in the European Union's history, efforts to deepen the Community and discussions on European governance with a view to future accessions. New treaties were signed, substantially increasing the Community's powers. However, difficulties with the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty also showed t hat the public had still to be convinced and that better public communication and information were needed. A total of 52 academics and researchers from more than 30 universities and research centres in