On 6 January 1981, German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher gives a speech in Stuttgart in which he calls for closer political cooperation between the Ten.

On 3 February 1981, Agence Europe publishes the full text of the address given on 28 January 1981 in Florence by Emilio Colombo, Italian Foreign Minister, in favour of strengthening European Political Cooperation.

On 6 November 1981, the German and Italian Governments submit to their partners in the European Communities a Draft European Act, known as the Genscher–Colombo Plan, which argues for a strengthening of political cooperation between the Ten.

On 12 November 1981, Emilio Colombo, Italian Foreign Minister, writes to his British counterpart, Lord Peter Carrington, explaining the reasons that led the Italian Government to draw up a draft European Act providing for political cooperation between the Ten.

On 19 November 1981, the MEP Altiero Spinelli publicly reprimands Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Emilio Colombo, the German and Italian Foreign Ministers, for having committed European political cooperation to an Intergovernmental Conference.

On 19 November 1981, Frans Andriessen, Member of the European Commission, welcomes the German-Italian proposals for the establishment of a European political union.

On 14 October 1979, the Italian Foreign Minister Emilio Colombo argues the case for the draft European Act, which the Governments of Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) proposed the year before.

On 14 October 1982, addressing the European Parliament, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and supporter of enhanced European political cooperation (EPC), defends the draft European Act drawn up by the Italian and German Governments.

On 14 October 1982, one year after the submission of the draft European Act by the German and Italian Governments, the MEP Altiero Spinelli criticises the lack of tangible results and vigorously supports the initiatives taken by the European Parliament with a view to the creation of the European Union.

Les 19 et 20 février 1983, le comité fédéral de l'Union des fédéralistes européens (UEF), traditionnel soutien du Parlement européen, adopte à Bruxelles une résolution très critique sur l'initiative diplomatique Genscher-Colombo.

At the Stuttgart Summit held from 17 to 19 June 1983, the Heads of State or Government of the Ten adopt a Solemn Declaration on European Union specifying the financing, enlargement and development of a number of common policies.

On 19 June 1983 in Stuttgart, the ten Heads of State and Government signed the Solemn Declaration on European Union.

On 21 June 1983, following the Stuttgart European Council, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the issues surrounding the implementation of common European political cooperation.

In his editorial of 20 July 1983, Emanuele Gazzo, Director of Agence Europe, comments on the conclusions of the Stuttgart European Council and suggests that the size of the Community budget should be increased so that Europe may develop new Community policies.

In July 1983, Emilio Colombo, outgoing Italian Foreign Minister, analyses the outcome of the Stuttgart European Council and welcomes the adoption of the Solemn Declaration on European Union as the best progress possible, given the current situation of the European Community.