A fond farewell to Michel Rocard

After 40 years of public office, the last 15 in the European Parliament, my fellow Socialist MEP Michel Rocard announced his retirement this week.

Rocard served as French Prime Minister under François Mitterrand and famously got the better of Maggie Thatcher in an entertaining exchange about the single currency.

During a summit meeting with Thatcher he raised the issue of the single currency and Thatcher responded, "Not in a thousand years". Rocard said,"I'm delighted to hear you say that, Prime Minister - you're not opposed to the principle, it's just a question of the timing!"