OUTCOME OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL HELD IN COPENHAGEN ON 7 AND 8 APRIL 1978

by Altiero Spinelli

SUMMARY: The European Parliament considered the outcome of the European Council which met in Copenhagen a few weeks after the kidnapping of Aldo Moro and the murder of his bodyguards.

In the weeks leading up to the European Council, Spinelli made two speeches in the Italian Chamber (16 March and 4 April 1978), on behalf of the Group of Independents of the Left, on the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. In "Speeches in European Parliament, 1976-1986", Pier Virgilio Dastoli Editor. (EP, 12 april 1978)

Mr President, as I am the first Italian to take the floor in this debate, I feel I have to make a statement which I am sure any other Italian Member of this Parliament, whatever his party, would have made using more or less the same words.

We greatly appreciate the solidarity expressed both here and in Copenhagen with the Italian people at this troublesome time. We want to point out that all the parties and trade unions in Italy, whether on the government or the opposition side, have rallied round the government and are determined not to give into blackmail, but to defend democracy in Italy calmly, without to give into without recourse to emergency legislation, by the untaltering application of the democratic laws of the nation.

I am not going to speak at length, in order to allow Mr Bordu to speak for half the time allotted to us. I am speaking on behalf of the Italian section of the Communist and Allies Group about the reports by the President of the Commission and the President-in-Office of the Council.

The European summit meeting in Copenhagen has highlighted the need for a European solution in times of crisis, when problems of internal politics, law and order, economics and international politics are all piling up. In short, the European Council meeting in Copenhagen has stressed the need for a European solution.

Is there anyone who would disagree with the list of things to be done, both in the economic field and in others? joint action against terrorism, pollution and unemployment is needed. No one can disagree with that. We could, of course, be a bit more specific and discuss whether some approach or other ought to be modified. But then we should merely end up with what the Germans call a 'Wunschliste', a kind of shopping list. It would not be a commitment to take political action. For political action you have to move from words to facts, and so far we have only had words from Copenhagen.

In my opinion, the talks that have been held in Copenhagen ought to make all the Community institutions realize - especially the Council of Ministers and the Heads of State or Government - that if we are going to try to solve our current problems simply by increasing the number of meetings by ministers and their experts - with each solidly defending his national viewpoint - instead of strengthening the Community structures, the net result will be that we shall go on talking about European union without actually getting anywhere. All too often in the past we have heard fine words at the end of European summit meetings. Remember the commitments that came out of the Paris summit of 1972, for a comprehensive fouryear plan? What was the outcome in fact? Nothing, or very little. I agree, one or two minor things were done, but in view of the fact that all these problems have to be tackled with a consistent plan of political, legislative and executive action, we must admit that mereasing the number of meetings of mi

nisters - first the Minister of the Interior, then the Finance Minister, and so on - is not going to turn words into action. But action is vitally important.

So probably the most important decision taken in Copenhagen was the fixing of the date of direct elections for next year. We are already a year late, so there is no cause for celebration. You can be sure that even now, in each of the Member States, there are those who are working on delaying tactics and other means to put back the elections again. We shall have to be careful and make sure that we do not miss our opportunity this time. If we manage to get a directly elected European Parliament, we shall be able to strengthen this institution which is proving that it is more aware than any other of the need for a genuine Europe, with proper European structures. Yesterday's debate showed that Parliament realizes that if anything is to come of the promises made in Copenhagen, it is essential for the Commission to assume more responsibility than even it itself claims.

In my view, if we can keep these promises, we shall be well on the way to creating a better climate in which the Community can develop. Otherwise, we shall run the risk of having heard yet again a fine flow of words which in the end nowhere - except to more sterile Council meetings with their increasing symptoms of paralysis.