Jacques Delors was European Commission President from 1985 to 1995, during which time he promoted further European integration and a single currency. The French politician made a speech in 1988 in which he made the prediction that “in ten years, 80 percent of the legislation related to economics, maybe also to taxes and social affairs will be of Community origin.” However, this was more than just a prediction, it was an “ambition” according to Charles Powell, a key foreign policy adviser to Margaret Thatcher. Related articles Margaret Thatcher's chilling EU warning: 'You have put head in FIRE' How Nigel Farage revealed ONLY reason why he left Conservative Party He said in an article in The Guardian on October 12, 1992 that the Maastricht Treaty was intended to be a step towards a federal European state. Mr Powell claimed: “When Delors said some time ago that 80 percent of the decisions now taken by national governments and parliaments would soon be taken in Brussels it was not idle speculation: he was articulating an ambition.” Mrs Thatcher and Mr Delors had many disagreements during their concurrent time leading the UK and the EU respectively. In 1988, Mr Delors addressed the British Trade Union Congress, promising that the Commission would introduce pro-Labour legislation. READ MORE: How Thatcher warned Major about ERM disaster BEFORE Black Wednesday Margaret Thatcher and Jacques Delors (Image: GETTY) John Major (Image: GETTY) Mrs Thatcher responded to this intrusion with her famous “Bruges Speech” on September 20 that year. She declared that she had not rolled back the state in the UK, for it to be reimposed across the channel in Brussels. Mr Powell however, claimed the Maastricht Treaty was an attempt to move towards the integrated Europe that Mr Delors desired. He added that the Danish “no” vote, the “grudging French acceptance” and “rising misgivings” in Britain and Germany showed the federalists that they were “seriously at fault”. Related articles Nigel Farage's BRILLIANT point about EU revealed: 'We can't AFFORD ... Is THIS when Brexit started? Mrs Thatcher's anti-EU speech revealed Former European Commission President Jacques Delors (Image: GETTY) The former Private Secretary to Mrs Thatcher said the British Government shows a “better understanding of ordinary people’s worries” about centralisation than the EU bosses. While the 1992 agreement did facilitate further European integration, Prime Minister John Major hailed a number of wins for the UK. Mr Major claimed he had successfully fought against elements of the treaty such as the Social Chapter and diminution in the role of NATO.All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility