DIFFERENT VOICES

Date: 15/05/1997

“I need your support to continue the work we have begun together and which can only bear fruit over time. Let us seize our opportunity in a shared élan.” French President Jacques Chirac appealing to voters to support the centre-right coalition in his country's 25 May election.

“The president's élan has fallen as flat as a badly cooked soufflé.”

French Socialist MEP Elisabeth Guigou reacting to Chirac's remarks.

“We want Britain to be one of the three leading members of the European Union (with France and Germany), working together to achieve an outcome in the interests of all our peoples.”

New British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook speaking after a meeting with his French counterpart Hervé de Charette. His remarks prompted an angry reaction from Italian officials, infuriated at their country being left out.

“We were not expecting a revolution, but we did hope for a new climate. What we have felt so far is this new climate.” French European Affairs Minister Michel Barnier speaking after the Anglo-French meeting.

“It was music to my ears.”

European Monetary Institute President Alexandre Lamfalussy welcoming the new UK Finance Minister Gordon Brown's decision to give the Bank of England greater independence in setting monetary policy.

“We have now reached a new level of convergence in the Union.”

Economics Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy hailing the performance of Spain and Portugal in striving to meet the targets for membership of the euro-zone.

“Now we move on to the parents and subsidiaries directive which, I am told, has nothing to do with mothers and daughters.”

Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm referring to an obscure corporate tax proposal at a meeting with his EU counterparts this week.

“The political will exists all over Europe to bring this to a successful end.”

Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok predicting that agreement on a revised EU treaty could be reached when the Intergovernmental Conference reaches its climax at next month's summit of EU leaders in Amsterdam.