DIFFERENT VOICES

Date: 19/10/1995

“The German-French motor will be decisive and this motor is not spluttering.”

German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel in a Bonn speech acknowledging Germany and France differed over the future of European integration, but insisting they would find common ground.

“The European institutions need oxygen. The air is stuffy.”

Former Commission President Jacques Delors, speaking after receiving the Adolphe Bentinck prize at the Centre of European Policy Studies.

“Mr Santer thinks it is grotesque to have recourse to this kind of behaviour for reasons of maintaining a high profile in politics and the media.”

Commission spokesman João Vale de Almeida commenting on the anti-European speeches delivered by UK Conservatives at their annual party conference.

“Let's stop looking at Europe as if it were an invader to be kept at bay.”

Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan appealing to fellow UK Conservative Party members not to campaign on an anti-European platform in the next general election.

“You cannot veto, you cannot impeach other countries who want to go ahead - and some will.”

Commission President Jacques Santer in an interview on British television, warning the UK it could not prevent other countries from developing a common foreign and security policy with some majority voting.

“Our success has been to convince all our members that there is no alternative to European integration.”

Commission President Jacques Santer speaking at the annual dinner of the British-Arab Chamber of Commerce.

“I do not like this word 'bomb'. It is not a bomb, it is a device which is exploding.”

French ambassador to New Zealand Jacques le Blanc speaking at New Zealand National Press Club.

“The CDU cannot become a party with a Führer-cult fixed on one person. Otherwise it would burst like a pricked balloon when that person is no longer there.”

Heiner Geissler, long-term rival of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and leader of the CDU's liberal wing, in a speech which angered many party colleagues.

“Contrary to some views, I see little sign that the so-called paperless society is really on the way to threaten your existence.” Employment Commissioner Pádraig Flynn speaking at the International Postal Forum Dinner in Dublin Castle.

“NATO is going through a difficult transformation process. This cannot be done with a broken-winged chairman...we cannot afford a 'Willygate' like this.” Dutch Liberal Party leader Frits Bolkestein calling for NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes' resignation.