- Born on 16 January 1942 in Grainville-Ymauville (F), died on 17 May 2018

- Nationality: French

- Member of the French National Education Council (1975–1981)

- Member of the French Economic and Social Council (1980–1984)

- Member of the European Parliament (1984–2002, 2004–2009)

- Vice-President (1989–1999) then President (1999–2002) of the European Parliament

- Minister for Industry (2002–2004)

- Chair of the Scelles Foundation (2004–2005)

- Holder of the ad personam Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis (2010–2018)