Abstract

The Delors Commission (1985-1995) developed an extremely broad social policy agenda, but it is often overlooked that this ambition has acquired a greener colour over the years, especially after 1989 under the influence of the Italian commissioner Carlo Ripa di Meana. This paper will first emphasize the importance of Delors’ social agenda in the classic sense, i.e. predominantly the amelioration of working conditions and redistribution. The second part will then explore the heightened salience of green issues in the Commission’s social policy, while the third part will explore the fierce contest resulting from this growing emphasis on environmental protection, through a major case study, the 1989 car emissions directive.