DIFFERENT VOICES

Date: 07/03/1996

“The message going out from Bangkok...is that two of the most important regions of the world, Europe and Asia, are going to work together, determined to strengthen their cooperation and create confidence and reciprocal understanding.”

Italian Prime Minister Lamberto Dini speaking at the end of the EU-Asia summit.

“It is of the greatest possible importance that the Europe-Asia-US triangle becomes more active.”

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl speaking at the EU-Asia summit.

“It's going to turn their universe on its head. It's not the Commission who should be the target of your attacks.”

Industry Commissioner Martin Bangemann telling the UK to look at the statistics before criticising the EU for over-regulation, pointing out that member states drafted 1,136 technical regulations between 1992 and 1994 on the way products are marketed and tested, compared with the 415 directives and regulations on products adopted by the EU in its entire history.

“I am sympathetic to the idea. I think it will keep coming back on to the agenda on the European Union and I think the British should keep their involvement in the mainstream of politics.”

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke insisting the UK should consider the consequences of staying outside a single European currency, defying the Eurosceptics within his own party who have called on the British government to rule out any possibility of the UK taking part in economic and monetary union.

“This is like Chinese water torture on the heads of the legislators.”

Richard Palmer, secretary of the British Olympic Committee explaining the 'drip action' tactics being used by the sports world to persuade EU governments to give sport special treatment in the wake of the Bosman judgement.

“Mr Holbrooke deserves the Greenpeace award for the best recycling job.”

Dr Jonathan Eyal, of the Royal United Services Institute, telling the European Parliament's sub-committee on security and defence that the Dayton peace plan for Bosnia worked out by US mediator Richard Holbrooke was merely a rewording of EU ideas.

“Once more, innocent lives have been mown down by the blind and criminal violence of a cowardly attack which the EU condemns in the strongest terms.”

Union presidency statement after a Hamas' suicide bomb killed 19 people and injured ten more in Jerusalem on 3 March.