Helmut KOHL was a former German leader who served as Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998. He was a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and is widely regarded as one of the most influential statesmen of the 20th century. He was also known for his role in the reunification of Germany, which he achieved by negotiating the 1990 Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany. He was also instrumental in the creation of the European Union and the introduction of the euro currency.