François-Xavier Ortoli (; 16 February 1925 – 30 November 2007) was a French politician who served as the fifth
president of the European Commission
The president of the European Commission, also known as president of the College of Commissioners is the Head of government, head of the European Commission, the Executive (government), executive branch of the European Union (EU). The president ...
from 1973 to 1977. He served as
Minister of the Economy of France from 1968 to 1969.
Ortoli served with the
Free French Forces
__NOTOC__
The French Liberation Army ( ; AFL) was the reunified French Army that arose from the merging of the Armée d'Afrique with the prior Free French Forces (; FFL) during World War II. The military force of Free France, it participated ...
during World War II and was decorated with the
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
,
Médaille militaire
The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...
and
Médaille de la Résistance
The Resistance Medal (, ) was a decoration bestowed by the French Committee of National Liberation, based in the United Kingdom, during World War II. It was established by a decree of General Charles de Gaulle on 9 February 1943 "to recognize the ...
. He served in various ministerial capacities in the 1968–1969 administration of
Prime Minister of France
The prime minister of France (), officially the prime minister of the French Republic (''Premier ministre de la République française''), is the head of government of the French Republic and the leader of its Council of Ministers.
The prime ...
Maurice Couve de Murville
Jacques-Maurice Couve de Murville (; 24 January 1907 – 24 December 1999) was a French diplomat and politician who was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1958 to 1968 and Prime Minister from 1968 to 1969 under the presidency of General de Gaul ...
including Finance Minister. Ortoli was one of the two
French European Commissioners from 1973 to 1985 holding various portfolios, serving as the
fifth President of the European Commission between 1973 and 1977 leading the
Ortoli Commission
The Ortoli Commission is the European Commission that held office from 6 January 1973 to 5 January 1977. Its President was François-Xavier Ortoli.
Work
It was the successor to the Mansholt Commission and was succeeded by the Jenkins Commiss ...
. He was later director of Marceau Investissements and President of
Total. Ortoli was also the grandfather of Antoine-Xavier Troesch, a formerly eminent investment banker. Together with
Étienne Davignon
Étienne, Count Davignon (; born 4 October 1932) is a Belgium, Belgian former diplomat, top civil servant, businessman, and former vice-president of the European Commission, also known as an active participant in organization of the murder of P ...
he attended the founding meeting of the
European Round Table of Industrialists
The European Round Table for Industry (previously known as the European Round Table of Industrialists), abbreviated ERT, is a cross-sectoral forum and advocacy group in the European Union consisting of some 60 European industrial businesspeople wo ...
in Paris in 1983.
See also
*
List of Corsican people
References
* Th
private papers of François-Xavier Ortoliare deposited at th
Historical Archives of the EU in Florence.
External links
1925 births
2007 deaths
Politicians from Ajaccio
Union of Democrats for the Republic politicians
Rally for the Republic politicians
Union for a Popular Movement politicians
Ministers of national education of France
Finance ministers of France
Deputies of the 4th National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic
Presidents of the European Commission
French European commissioners
TotalEnergies people
École nationale d'administration alumni
French military personnel of World War II
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
Recipients of the Resistance Medal
European commissioners (1973–1977)
European commissioners (1977–1981)
European commissioners (1981–1985)
{{France-politician-RPR-stub