DIFFERENT VOICES

Date: 09/05/1996

“The Euro is not only a banknote, but also the instrument of political union in Europe. Europe today is a monetary Tower of Babel. Tomorrow, with the Euro, from Brest to Athens, the European citizen will be paid in a common currency, see prices expressed in a common currency - his own.”

Economics Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy extolling the virtues of EMU on a visit to Athens.

“At the current rate, we won't make it in time, so an extra effort will be needed ... even so, it will not be easy. It seems to me a reasonable idea to stop the clock of monetary union for a few months so that a few more of us can jump on to the bandwagon.”

New Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes underlining the difficulties his country faces in meeting the 1 January 1999 deadline for monetary union and suggesting a short delay might be the answer if Madrid is not ready in time.

“We know we have to be isolated if we are going to stand up for Britain's interests.”

British Prime Minister John Major making it clear that the UK would not re-enter any new Exchange Rate Mechanism and would not bow to anything which would risk its identity in Europe.

“All of those who trade on anti-Europeanism - who play on the fears of their citizens, getting them all excited or exploiting them against Europe - are fooling themselves and they will all be defeated ... Let us not always look elsewhere, to Brussels or Maastricht, for the reasons for our own weakness.”

French European Affairs Minister Michel Barnier attacking the British Conservative Party's anti-EU rhetoric.

“This kind of territorial claim is the ultimate insult to international order, world order and international law ...

I am waiting to see progress and I think the EU should also wait before funding Turkey in any way.”

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos urging Ankara to abandon its claim to deserted islets in the Aegean or accept arbitration by an international court, and making it clear his government would continue to block the flow of EU funds to Turkey until it does so.