Speech (extract) by Jacques Delors

Speech (extract) by Jacques Delors

‘The Community would not have had the strength, the coherence or the necessary legitimacy to cope with the challenges of today’s world or those of the future without democratic deepening. […] The process of democratization requires that Europe is equipped with a political personality. The political union, to use the Maastricht definition, allows the European Community to emphasize its own standpoint in international affairs more effectively than in the past. The Foreign and Security Policy is at the core of the treaty of the Political Union. […] The Political Union is the necessary addition to the Economic and Currency Union. It will take away citizen’s fear that their interests will be decided by a far of technocracy without their say or that of their elected representatives. The strengthening of the feeling of belonging to Europe is essential but does not suffice. The construction of Europe can only succeed and meet our expectations when it fulfills three essential conditions: the involvement of citizens, the crucial implementation of the subsidiary principle and respect for diversity.’

Photo Jacques Delors

Jacques Delors