in French society. that theprotestsof May1968hadhastenedinevitablechange observer of eventsratherthanaparticipator’,shelaterreflected was expectingherfirstchild.Describingherselfmoreas ‘an d’Etudes Politiquesde Paris by students andworkers. Shehadjust finishedat the Fontaine waslivingin Paris’ LatinQuarterduringthe1968 riots was to remainimportanther. ber of the bar of of primary schoolteachers.Shestudiedlawandbecameamem Fontaine wasthedaughterof adoctorandgranddaughter Born on 16January1942inGrainville-Ymauville, Normandy, Nicole Early Years (1942‑2018) Nicole Fontaine: the department of Political Studies) and (Paris Instituteof PoliticalStudies)and

© University of NiceSophiaAntipolis. Europe, theworld’s oldestbusinessschool,andwasJeanMonnetChairat the Fontaine wasan educatoraswell as apolitician. Shewasprofessor at ESCP Charter of FundamentalRightsonbehalftheEuropeanParliament. with a charteroffundamentalrights’ concerns. Shearguedfor an 1999, sheunderlinedtheimportanceof takingaccountpeople’s day-to-day In hermaidenspeechto theEuropeanCouncilinTampere, Finland, in October European Parliament’s working methods to Fontaine, whowasPresidentfrom1999-2002,setaboutreforming the and devoted champion of The EuropeanParliament’s secondfemale Presidentwasa persuasive politician Hauts-de-Seine, but education Hauts-de-Seine, but education Politicianandeducator Institut Institut EU Pioneers - Europe whooversaw the adoption of the euro. Nicole as well women’s rightsandgenderequality. education andthemutualrecognition of academicqualifications, worked for a citizens’Europe,focusing on projectsconcerningyouth From the verystartof herparliamentarycareer, Nicole Fontaine Political career elected to theEuropeanParliament in June1984. prominence during national debates on and SocialCouncil)from1980to 1984.Fontainerosegreater 1975 to 1981andofthe de in this area. Shewas a member ofthe tive andstatutorychangesthatshapedthelegalframework authorities. Shesubsequentlyplayeda majorroleinthelegisla for relationsbetweentheprivateeducationsectorandpublic gnement catholique Fontaine beganhercareerat the ‘ambitious approachaimedat providing theUnion l’Education Nationale . In December2000shesignedthe (Catholic Education Secretariat), responsible (CatholicEducationSecretariat),responsible bring it (French National Education Council) from (French NationalEducationCouncil)from Conseil économiqueet social closer to Secrétariat généraldel’Ensei­ private education and was private education and was European citizens. European citizens. Conseil Supérieur (Economic (Economic -

EN She served twice as Vice-President, from 1989 to 1994 and from European Parliament in 2004. Nicole Fontaine was also affiliate 1994 to 1999. She brokered agreements between the European professor at ESCP Europe, and wrote a number of books on the Parliament and the Member States on key legislation, including work of the European Parliament. two EU youth programmes (Socrates and Youth for Europe). Her diplomatic skills were widely recognised. In 1999, The Econo- Nicole Fontaine was immersed in the debate on how to improve mist described her as ‘a consensus-seeker, coalition-builder, con­ the right up to the last years of her life. Just before ciliator... nowhere more at home than in the byzantine corridors the UK referendum on EU membership in June 2016, she published of Europe, canvassing cross-party support, flashing her smile, Brexit, Une Chance? Repenser l’Europe (Brexit: An Opportunity? teasing out compromise’. Rethinking Europe) with French journalist François Poulet-Mathis. The book is an objective look at the reasons behind public disaf- Nicole Fontaine was elected President of the European Parliament fection with the EU. Always a champion of Europe, Nicole Fontaine on 20 July 1999. Her first test was the appointment of a new looked at how to turn it into an opportunity to address the needs Commission led by Romano Prodi following the collapse of the of citizens and strengthen the European Union. Santer Commission in March 1999. She enjoyed good relations with both the new Commission and with Member States in the Nicole Fontaine died on 17 May 2018 at the age of 76. Her devo- Council of Ministers. tion to European ideals was recognised during her lifetime by a number of awards, including the Medal and Working tirelessly for dialogue and peace, Fontaine famously the Commandeur dans l’Ordre National du Mérite (Commander brought together the Presidents of the Israeli and Palestinian par- of the National Order of Merit). liaments for an historic handshake in Strasbourg in 2000. In April 2001 she invited Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Vice- President of Afghanistan, to visit Strasbourg to speak about the sit- uation in his country. She was particularly concerned about the plight of Afghan women. The following month she invited three women who had secretly escaped Kabul to the European Parlia- ment to give their testimony. She described the meeting as among the ‘most moving moments’ of her Presidency.

In 2002, Fontaine left the European Parliament to become ’s Minister for Industry in the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin. Between 2004 and 2005, she headed the Scelles Foundation, which fights against sexual exploitation. She was re-elected to the Nicole Fontaine greets Afghan politician and Northern Alliance military leader Ahmad Shah Massoud during his visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in 2001.

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