Finn Olav Gundelach

Finn Olav Gundelach at the opening of the International Green Week, 1980

Finn Olav Gundelach (born April 23, 1925 in Vejle ; † January 13, 1981 in Strasbourg ) was a Danish diplomat and Vice President of the EC Commission.

Life

Gundelach, the son of a senior teacher, studied economics in Vejle and Århus and devoted himself to university politics from an early age. Most recently, he was Vice President of the Danish Students' Association. After completing his studies, he entered the foreign service . From 1955 he represented Denmark at the UN in Geneva . In 1959 he switched to international customs negotiations, became director and from 1962 deputy executive secretary of GATT . In the Kennedy Round he was able to achieve significant tariff reductions (around 35%). From 1967 Gundelach was Denmark's ambassador to the European Community and helped prepare his country's accession to the EC.

After Denmark joined the EU in 1973, he became the country's first EC Commissioner . From January 6, 1973 to January 6, 1977 he was responsible for the internal market and customs union in the Ortoli Commission and from January 6, 1977 until his death for agriculture and fisheries in the Jenkins and Thorn Commissions . In the Jenkins Commission he was also Vice President of the European Commission until January 6, 1981 .

Lifelong non-party Gundelach died of heart failure on January 13, 1981, one week after the Jenkins Commission started working.

Gundelach married the teacher Vibeke Rosenvinge in 1953, with whom he had two children.

literature

• Munzinger archive. International Biographical Archive, delivery 20/81, May 16, 1981

Web links

Commons : Finn Olav Gundelach  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Obituary in the New York Times
• Literature by and about Finn Olav Gundelach in the catalog of the German National Library