The lesser of two evils

Date: 21/12/1995

One of the EU leaders around the Madrid summit negotiation table was less than kind about the European Parliament when it came to considering a request from MEPs for observer status at next year's Intergovernmental Conference.

According to those in the room at the time, this particular leader opined: “I think it's a good idea - otherwise some poor soul will have to go down to Strasbourg and inform the Parliament about how things are going, and that would be dreadful.”