John Morley (1941 – 2026)

We are very saddened at the news of the death of John Morley. As head of the policy unit in the European Commission’s DG Employment, he was the main instigator and driving force for the EU’s interest and support for local initiatives for employment and economic development. In his memory, Haris Martinos, who worked closely with John Morley, contributed the following reflection piece. 

John Morley

I first met John in the early 1980s. He was already a dashing Eurocrat, someone who could dazzle an international audience with ease. We then worked closely together for more than ten years, developing and managing an innovative European action-research programme called LEDA. Our collaboration continued well into the 2010s, focusing on European labour mobility – an appropriate field, perhaps, for two committed Europeans.

John’s deep understanding of how labour markets’ function, and of how governments attempt to influence them, made him an outstanding economist and employment policy specialist. But it was not only his theoretical mastery that set him apart.

One of John’s defining hallmarks was his commitment to bottom-up learning – an approach I was fortunate to share with him. This meant countless journeys to declining industrial regions and to remote, underdeveloped rural areas; long discussions with local politicians, practitioners, and activists; and an ongoing effort to document and distil the experiences of people from all parts of Europe.

When we returned to Brussels, John would arrive at meetings brimming with new ideas, leaving the rest of us struggling to keep pace. He drove us hard – entirely in character for someone with a passion for car racing.

What truly distinguished John from many other officials was not only his intellectual rigour, but his flair for writing and, above all, his determination to turn ideas into action. He had a rare ability to express complex arguments in a way that politicians could grasp quickly, while at the same time speaking a language that practitioners could translate into real change on the ground. John modestly attributed this gift to his brief early experience as a journalist.

Yet he was never content with policy papers and speeches alone. He was restless, constantly experimenting and seeking practical ways to support people directly. Together, we piloted new forms of hands-on assistance. The Handbook and the Summer Schools on local employment development were pioneering initiatives, as was our collaboration with Management Schools, which pushed support well beyond the conventional boundaries of EU programmes.

We say goodbye to John knowing that he gave so much. I was one of the many who had the privilege to work with him, to learn from him and to be encouraged by him to turn ideas into practice.

Haris Martinos

January 2026