Gaston Egmond Thorn (3 September 1928 – 26 August 2007)[1] was a Luxembourgish politician who served in a number of high-profile positions, both domestically and internationally.

[2] While still at school he engaged in resistance activities during the German occupation, and spent several months in prison.

It coincided with a time of economic and political crisis, of Eurosclerosis, inside the European Community.

[1] There was also tension due to other EC governments' reservations about Britain's role in the Falklands War; and due to some European leaders' opposition to United States foreign policy and the deployment of cruise missiles and Pershing missiles in Europe.

This all "combined to put the aspirations of Thorn and other supporters of European integration on hold".

[1] However, as EC President, Thorn did manage to reach agreement on a common fisheries policy, and laid the basis for Portugal and Spain joining the European Community.

In this Thorn laid the groundwork for his successor Jacques Delors, who took the commission to the height of its power.