MEPs keep taking the tablets

Date: 20/06/1996

For some, the IGC's challenge to produce a better EU is becoming akin to the search for the Holy Grail. But others prefer a more biblical analogy.

One of them is Elmar Brok, one of the European Parliament's two observers. Bringing his colleagues up to date on the talks recently, Brok told fellow MEPs that the Parliament should not feel it had to stick to all the points set out in the Old Testament (the Martin/Bourlanges report) or in the New Testament (the later Dury/Maij-Weggen version).

Such religious fervour has resulted in Brok and his fellow parliamentary observer Elisabeth Guigou being dubbed the two apostles, while their parliamentary colleague Yannos Kranidiotis, Greece's IGC representative, has received semi-apostle status.

There is plenty of scope for this sort of thing to continue, and it has already been noted that turning water into wine or parting the Red Sea might be easier than reaching unanimous agreement on Europe's future. One day of course, the process will be complete - but will it be the promised land or Armageddon?