The Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) has added the archives of Richard Burke to its collections.
Richard Burke was an Irish politician who served twice as Ireland’s European Commissioner. In his first appointment, from 1977-1981, he served in the Roy Jenkins Commission as European Commissioner for Taxation, Consumer Affairs, Transport and Parliamentary Relations. In his second term, from 1982 to 1985, he was European Commissioner for Inter-institutional Relations and Administration, in the Gaston Thorn Commission. Given his seniority, he was nominated as a Vice-President of the Commission, and in that capacity was responsible for negotiating the Greek memorandum and managing a number of challenges associated with Greece’s 1981 entry into the European Communities.
Known for his avid speech writing and full calendar of speaking engagements, the fonds mostly is comprised of speeches that Burke made while carrying out his official duties in the Jenkins cabinet.
After his second Commission term, Burke helped to set up the Japanese Canon Educational Foundation in Europe, based in the Netherlands. It aimed at strengthening mutual understanding between Europe and Japan by awarding fellowships for research. This fonds includes numerous speeches and addresses that Burke delivered on Japan-EEC relations.