On 11 September 1952, Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority of the ECSC, opens the inaugural session of the Common Assembly with an address in which he sets out the role of the first Community institutions and emphasises the importance of establishing a single market in Europe.

On 13 November 1973, Willy Brandt becomes the first Head of Government of a Member State of the European Communities to address the European Parliament meeting in plenary sitting. The German Chancellor delivers an address in which he outlines his opinions on European integration. With regard to the European Communities, Brandt discusses, in particular, the establishment of a European Government and proposes a programme that must be implemented without delay.

On 10 July 1986, in Luxembourg, Simone Veil, Chairman of the Liberal and Democratic Reformist Group in the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982, gives an interview during which she outlines, in particular, the political role of Parliament and its special responsibility as the democratic representative of the peoples of the Communities.

On 19 July 1979, following the first elections to the European Parliament by universal suffrage, Willy Brandt, Chairman of the German Social Democratic Party, encourages Parliament to assume its new responsibilities and raises certain questions to which the European Communities will have to find answers.

In 1974, at a conference held in Austria on the economic and political situation in Europe, Otto von Habsburg, President of the International Paneuropean Union, argues in favour of the election of Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.

On 12 April 1983, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, West German Foreign Minister, gives his views in the European Parliament on the report by Belgian MEP Lambert Croux concerning the establishment of European Political Cooperation. He also emphasises the importance of the plan for a Solemn Declaration on the European Union.

During a meeting held in Brussels from 10 to 15 January 1979, the Confederation of the Socialist Parties of the European Community adopts unopposed its appeal to the electorate regarding the upcoming direct elections to the European Parliament.

In 1982, in the German magazine Die Neue Gesellschaft, Willy Brandt, Member of the European Parliament, outlines the measures to be taken in order to redress the loss of confidence of European citizens in the European Community.

In June 1979, alluding to the first elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, the German cartoonist, Felix Mussil, speculates on the real powers of the European Parliament and on the national interests that are undermining the European integration process.

‘Europa and her bull.’ In June 1979, commenting on the first elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, the German cartoonist, Horst Haitzinger, takes an ironic look at the ancient myth of ‘The Rape of Europa’ to illustrate the low turnout at the European elections.