DIFFERENT VOICES

Date: 17/09/1998

“Decisions taken by the 15 member states have to be applied by 15. If one or more countries refuses to play the game, it strips the decision to impose sanctions of any meaning.” European Commission President Jacques Santer criticising the UK and Greece for failing to implement immediately the EU ban on flights by Yugoslav carriers.

“I would like the European System of Central Banks to speak with one voice ... and we are doing our utmost to achieve that by organising, let's say, a one-voice speaker or at least a harmonious choir.” European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg moving to head off concerns about policy divisions within its governing council.

“The euro is essential protection which is preventing European economies from being dragged into the economic and monetary turmoil. Without it, one or other of European currencies would already have been hit by the Asian and Russian crises.” German Finance Minister Theo Waigel insisting that EMU was helping his country shrug off the ill effects of the recent financial turbulence.

“A currency never protected anyone. Blind faith in the euro reminds me very strongly of the veneration that surrounded the Maginot Line ... You could not have found any French politician in 1938 who doubted the invincibility of that guarantee.” Former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua drawing a parallel between Europe's belief that the single currency would protect it from world economic crises and his country's confidence in the Thirties that the Maginot Line would shield it from a Nazi attack.

“The thing has an element of charade about it because everybody knows that he is going to win the referendum, which means that it is not going to prove anything.” Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan attacking British Conservative Party leader William Hague's decision to ballot party members on his anti-EMU policy.

“The door to membership of the EU is open to Malta, but we must stick to the rules.” Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schüssel speaking after the new Maltese government formally revived its application to join the EU.