The 1993 White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment

Abstract

This chapter examines a case of attempted leadership by Commission President Delors in a highly unfavourable environment. One of the worst economic recessions since the Second World War, a deeply hostile atmosphere for the Commission, and the so-called ‘Maastricht fatigue’ after the Treaty’s turbulent ratification process would have made it extremely difficult for any Commission leader to launch a new initiative in 1993. And yet, Delors made a modest success of exercising agenda-setting leadership by initiating the process leading to the adoption by the Brussels European Council in December 1993 of the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment (hereafter the White Paper).