Thermometer of the United States of Europe

+ 7 Survey

ARE THERE CITIZENS WHO DON'T WANT IT???

Should the European Community expand to include Eastern Europe on a basis of equality?

In favour Against

Great Britain 67% 27%

France 57% 37%

Germany 44% 36%

Switzerland 56% 31%

Denmark 49% 44%

Italy 76% 16%

Soviet Union 70% 12%

(The European, 18/20-05-90, page 10)

+ 6 Janez Drnovsek

President of Yugoslavia

ONE MORE EFFORT

"(...) the majority of Yugoslavs see their place as being in the future Europe, united from an economic, cultural, but also political point of view. (...) (Yugoslavia) wants to take part in the "creation of tomorrow's Europe".

On the subject of the adhesion to the European Community, the President stated that "if the current rhythm of economic and political changes remains constant, Yugoslavia will be able, in two or three years, to fulfil the necessary conditions to apply and become a full-blown member of the European Community" (La Libre Belgique, 9-5-90)

+ 5 Marian Calfa

Czechoslovakian Prime Minister

A SLIGHTLY LARGE FORK

"There is a limit on the way to the adhesion to the European Community." "We believe we would be able to do all that is necessary to be in the conditions of becoming full-blown members of the Community between now and the end of the century". (Daily News, 8-5-90)

+ 4 Helmut Kohl

Chancellor of the Federal republic of Germany

THE MINIMUM

"We can no longer honestly ask the electors to vote for a (European) Parliament with no great powers. The time is ripe. We are no longer looking for excuses. The President of the European Parliament always tells us the same story. It's absurd" (Le Soir, 30-05-90)

+ 3 Giulio Andreotti

Italian Prime Minister

WILL A COMMITMENT FOLLOW?

"Some countries are concerned about not depriving the national Parliaments of their competences. But in fact a whole range of attributions have already been transferred to the Community. The truth is that the division of powers at a European level is arbitrary: the (European) Council is an executive organism of proposal, the Parliament lacks democratic centrality. It should on the contrary have more importance and be connected with those single countries." (Il Corriere della Sera, 27-05-90)

+2 Jozsef Antall

LACKING IN TONE

"Finally, as the fourth basic principle, the new government intends to be a European government, and not only in a geographical sense. The government is committed to ensure the adhesion to the European Community within the next decade. This calls for changes, both in our country and in the structures of the European Community.

(...)". (MTI, 22-05-90)

- 4 Jiri Diensbier

Foreign Minister of the federal Czech and Slovakian republic

COULD NOT BE MORE MITTERAND-LIKE

"(...) If the Czechoslovakian conception is carried out - with a European Security Commission and then a conference of foreign ministers and a confederation of European states - the meaning of small arguments and conflicts will diminish." (Ceteka daily news, 18-05-90)

- 8 Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Member of the European Parliament

FULL-SPEED ASTERN!

The former President of the French Republic foreshadowed a European Community based on "a Confederate system inclusive of elements of partly federate management. (La Libre Belgique, 18-05-90)

- 10 Franz Andriessen

European Community Commissioner, responsible for foreign and commercial relations

WE'LL SEE LATER

"Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia will be able to join the Community after 1995, if the process of democratization and institution of a market economy does not stop. However, the Soviet Union is still not part of such project. (Magyar Hirlap, 12-05-90)