The European Law Academy mourns the loss of its co-founder
Former State Secretary Horst Langes
Honorary Member of the European Parliament
*2 December 1928 ⴕ25 March 2026.
Horst Langes, who served as State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1974 to 1979, was a member of the European Parliament for the CDU from 1979 to 1994, the first Parliament to be directly elected in 1979. As a leading member of the Committee on Budgets, he worked in collaboration with legal policy-makers from other Member States and political groups, as well as with the governments of Luxembourg and Rhineland-Palatinate, to establish the Academy of European Law, which was founded as a public foundation on 22 June 1992 in his home city of Trier. His perseverance, credibility and strategic skill were instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
From 1992 to 2000, he served as President of the ERA’s Governing Board, and remained a member until 2017, after handing over this office to Jacques Santer. Horst Langes continued to support the establishment and expansion of the Academy to the best of his ability even after his retirement from active politics in 1994, and remained a constant pillar of support for ERA’s management thanks to his excellent relationships with key figures at European and national level, his experience in European politics, and his enduring reputation. His impressive personality will not be forgotten.
With the passing of Horst Langes, the Academy has lost its most important founding father.
Our sincere condolences go to his family.
Trier, 26 March 2026
Jean-Claude Juncker
President of the Governing Board
Sabine Verheyen
Chairperson of the Political Advisory Board
Marc van der Woude
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Wolfgang Heusel
Former Director of ERA (2000-2020)
Jean-Philippe Rageade
Director of the Academy
