At the end of two three-year terms, Mr. José Maria Gil-Robles wanted to pass the torch of the Foundation’s presidency.
On 12 December 2014, the Executive Board appointed the new President of the Foundation, Mr Pat Cox, for a renewable three-year term, effective 1 January 2015.
Pat Cox, an Irish national, is 62 years old. Former President of the European Parliament (2002-2004), of which he was a member for three terms, he then chaired the International European Movement from 2005 to 2011. He received the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen in 2004.
Pat Cox is the fourth president of the Foundation created by Jean Monnet in 1978, succeeding Henri Rieben (1978-2005), Bronislaw Geremek (2006-2008) and José Maria Gil-Robles (2009-2014).
Pat Cox’s inaugural conference was held on Thursday, March 12, 2015.