Tribute to Aneurin Rhys Hughes, ex-European Commission official

TRIBUTES have been paid to Aneurin (Nye) Rhys Hughes, one of Wales’ earliest European Commission officials, who has died of pancreatic cancer, aged 83.

Mr Hughes was head of the private office of former Labour MP Ivor Richard, the Commissioner during the Thatcher period with responsibility for employment, social policy, education and training. He later became the EU’s ambassador to Norway and Australia.

Born in Swansea, he went to Swansea Grammar School and went on to university in Aberystwyth, where he was president of the students’ union and later of the UK National Union of Students.

His friend Hywel Ceri

Jones, who worked with him for many years, said: “Nye was a very committed Welshman and a committed European. He had a world view of the need to promote social justice and peace. His world was Wales, and his Wales worldwide. He will be greatly missed and is a massive loss to Wales and the cause of European and international collaboration.

“We both began to work for the European Commission in Brussels on the same day in May 1973. Nye came to the Commission from the Foreign Office, where he had served with distinction as First Secretary in our embassies in Rome and Singapore.

“The start of the UK’s membership of what was then the European Economic Community was an opportunity for both of us. Along with the late Gwyn Morgan, Nye and I formed a close band of Welshmen delighted to be part of the first wave of senior officials from the UK in the EEC.”

Mr Hughes was the Commission’s anchorman in Wales during the 1975 referendum, which confirmed the UK’s membership of the bloc.