DIFFERENT VOICES

Date: 13/02/1997

“There is no question of this or that country passing judgement on which country will take part or not ... The fact that people are already making judgements or grading countries a full year before the decision will be taken I view as absolutely unacceptable.”

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl dismissing reports that Bonn was hatching a secret plan to keep Italy out of the first wave of EMU members and insisting the Maastricht Treaty criteria - and not political manoeuvring - would decide which countries qualified.

“At this time, it seems absolutely illusory and unfounded to speculate on who will enter, the names of the countries that will enter, those that will not, et cetera. Let us let our governments, the member states, do their work to attain the criteria.”

Commission President Jacques Santer delivers a similar message.

“We have passed the point of no return ... No single member state can, or will, stand in the way of the euro. An opt-out is the freedom to remain outside. It is not the means to stop other countries from going ahead.”

Economics Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy speaking during a visit to the UK and firmly rejecting British government claims that the 1 January 1999 deadline for EMU is unlikely to be met.

“The structural reform of agriculture will have to continue. I am absolutely convinced of that ... It is quite clear to me that policy relating to a sector as important as agriculture, both economically and socially, cannot stand still.”

Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler outlining the challenge facing the Common Agricultural Policy in a speech in Australia.

“No one, and I mean no one, will have a veto over which countries can join.”

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl insisting that Russia would not be able block NATO enlargement, but stressing that efforts must be made to address Moscow's concerns about the alliance's planned expansion.

“Letters must be sent to the right address. NATO cannot solve EU problems.”

NATO official stressing that while Turkish threats to veto the alliance's expansion in protest at its treatment by the Union were serious, the two issues were not linked.