European University Institute Library

Raymond Rifflet, [Fonds], 1946-1994

Descriptions are the property of the European University Institute (Historical Archives of the European Union), but can be freely used provided that reference is made to the source. Described by Catherine Previti

Raymond Rifflet was born in Schaerbeek on 21st December 1919. He studied at the Free University of Brussels, where he was President of the Socialist Students (1941-1945) and obtained a degree in philosophy and letters. His career began at the Athenaeum Schaerbeek where he taught history while leading the 'Cahiers socialist' (1944). In 1948, he was appointed national secretary of the Socialist Movement for the United States of Europe (MSEUE) and served on the board of the Federal Belgian Socialist Party. He was a federalist militant, operating in the Central Committee of the Union of European Federalists (UEF), and in the National Belgian Council of the European Movement. He was very close to the philosopher Alexandre Marc who advocated a humanistic global and radical federalism. His academic career included professorship at the European Institute of Sociology of the ULB, the University Center in Antwerp, the Federalist College of Aosta. He then served as attaché for the Fine Arts in the Office of the Belgian Minister of Education and Culture and as Commissioner at the Belgian Broadcasting. In January 1967, he inaugurated his career in the European Communities when Jean Rey, President of the Commission, appointed him Chief of Staff. At this place, he is confronted with a number of issues like Britain's membership trade negotiations and financial arrangements with the United States, the Greek military coup d'etat, Euratom crisis, the emergence of an industrial and technological policy and of a possible economic and monetary union. After the Hague Summit in December 1969, he served as Senior Advisor for Social Affairs in the office of Commissioner Albert Coppe, as Chief of the Social Affairs Division and then as Director of the European Social Fund where he was a strong supporter of economic and social cohesion at European level, with the aim of creating a European model of society. After the departure of Michael Shanks from the Commission in 1975, he committed himself to the cause of a European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. He was appointed special advisor in the field of community information by Presidents Jenkins and Thorn and consultant (1988-1994) by President Delors. In the 80s, he became Vice President of the European Movement International and maintained strict contacts with Alexander Marc. In 1992 he was elected President of the European Socialist Movement / European Left. He died in 1997.

Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU), Raymond Rifflet (RR)

Unrestricted access

4,5 linear meters.

The documents of this fonds can be supplemented by other documents deposited by Raymond Rifflet at the Catholic University of Louvain whose inventories are available on the internet. One part of these inventories (1946-1967) is available in microfiche.

(OCoLC)851517442