Delors--Views on Europe, Trade

Here are excerpts of comments made by Jacques Delors, president of the European Community Executive Commission, during an interview in his Brussels office:

On the trade disputes between the United States and the European Community and managing American concern:

“There’s a close link between the spirit of the overall relationship between the U.S. and Europe on one side and the process of solving commercial disputes on the other. . . . It seems to me that if the president of the European Council plus the president of the European Commission would have the opportunity to meet the President of the United States and the secretary of state two times a year for a global assessment of the situation . . . this would be a good solution.”

On European Community relations with Japan:

“Japan has refused its world responsibilities. It manages, and very intelligently from my point of view, a global strategy in the world economy, but in a (secretive) fashion--and that explains the worry of many Americans and why they watch Japan. It’s a real political problem to pursue, to convince, to press Japan to accept the burden-sharing of the world. My desire is that we won’t have the same attitude toward the United States as to Japan. A more open attitude toward the U.S. (is possible) because history, the spirit and (our common) experience is very good. But vis-a-vis Japan, Europe must become tougher and tougher.”

On meeting the December, 1992, deadline for completion of the community’s internal market:

“The speed is good. The political will is very good also. (There is) no problem.”

On the issue of a single European currency:

“We’ve made progress toward a consensus on the first stage of European monetary union. It is very important that the British prime minister has accepted the first stage. . . . I have a vision, but to fulfill this vision it’s necessary to become more pragmatic and to pay attention to the national problems.”

On the EC’s political role in Eastern Europe:

“The question is . . . how to avoid a return to totalitarianism and the Cold War. One way--not the only one--is to offer a very solid front of the 12 EC countries and the possibility for each Communist country to have close cooperation with the 12 to modernize their economies and consolidate their steps toward more freedom and democracy. . . . We must accelerate the political construction of (the community) to offer solid ground.”

On the answer to the so-called German question and a possible European Community role in it:

“The only way to convince the Russians, the Americans, the other European countries to find a good, acceptable solution to the two German nations is inside the community--within the framework of the community. I don’t speak of reunification but . . . of closer relations between the two German peoples because the framework of the community, with a touch of federalism, offers a possible solution.”