The international issue of German reunification
The European Community and German reunification
François Mitterrand, Of Germany and France
TexteIn 1996, François Mitterrand, President of France from 1981 to 1995, recalls the attitudes of the various European countries towards German reunification on the eve of the Strasbourg European Council of 8 and 9 December 1989.
Conclusions of the Strasbourg European Council: extract concerning the CEECs (8 and 9 December 1989)
TexteAt the end of the Strasbourg European Council held on 8 and 9 December 1989, the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve welcome the political changes under way in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) and approve the principle of establishing a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
‘The Strasbourg European Council: success and equivocations’ from L’Europe en formation
TexteOn the day after the meeting of the European Council in Strasbourg of 8 and 9 December 1989, the federalist magazine L’Europe en formation expresses its satisfaction at the progress achieved by the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve, with particular regard to monetary cooperation and to their attitude to the political events in Central and Eastern Europe.
‘The Germans influence the future of the EEC’ from Cadernos de Economia (March 1990)
TexteIn March 1990, the Portuguese economic affairs magazine Cadernos de Economia analyses the development of the European Community in the light of German reunification.
‘The Dublin meeting’ from L’Europe en formation
TexteOn the eve of the Dublin European Council, held on 28 April 1990, the federalist journal L’Europe en formation questions the ability of the Twelve to react to the political upheaval in Eastern Europe and to the challenge of German reunification.
Conclusions of the special meeting of the Dublin European Council: extract concerning German reunification (Dublin, 28 April 1990)
TexteOn 28 April 1990, at an extraordinary meeting in Dublin, the European Council determines three phases for the integration of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) into the European Community: an interim adaptation phase, a transitional phase and a final phase.
Group photo of the Dublin Special European Council (Dublin, 28 April 1990)
ImageOn 28 April 1990, at the Special European Council held in Dublin, the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve take the decision to integrate a reunified Germany into the European Community.
Podium of the Dublin Special European Council (Dublin, 28 April 1990)
ImageOn 28 April 1990, at the Special European Council held in Dublin, the Heads of State and Government of the Twelve take the decision to integrate a reunified Germany in the European Community.
Report by the European Parliament on German reunification (May 1990)
TexteIn May 1990, the European Parliament's Directorate-General for Research draws up a working document which considers the impact of German reunification on the revenue and expenditure of the Community budget.
European Parliament resolution on the conclusions of the Dublin European Council (17 May 1990)
TexteOn 17 May 1990, the European Parliament adopts a resolution in which it welcomes the European Council’s support for the process of German reunification.
‘An opportunity for Europe or a hindrance?' from Le Monde diplomatique (May 1990)
TexteIn May 1990, the French monthly magazine Le Monde diplomatique forecasts the repercussions of economic and monetary unification of the two Germanies on European integration, in particular on its political union.
'The two entities' from Le Figaro (3 October 1990)
TexteOn 3 October 1990, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro speculates on the possible consequences of German reunification for the operation of the European Communities.
The fears of some European countries
François Mitterrand, Of Germany and France
TexteIn 1996, François Mitterrand, President of France from 1981 to 1995, recalls the negative attitude of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister, towards German reunification.
Helmut Kohl, I wanted German unity
TexteIn his memoirs, Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), discusses the reservations of his European partners with regard to German unification.
‘The Lady will not let herself be pushed around’ from Die Zeit (6 April 1990)
TexteOn 6 April 1990, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses German-British relations against the background of German unification.
‘Kohl meets Mazowiecki to open political dialogue’ from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (10 November 1989)
TexteOn 10 November 1989, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describes the official visit of Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl to Poland as historic, comparing it with the visit made by Willy Brandt in December 1970.
‘A spanner in the works’ from Die Zeit (30 March 1990)
TexteOn 30 March 1990, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses Franco-German relations against the background of the German reunification.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Memoirs
TexteIn his memoirs, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, former German Foreign Minister, recalls the tour of the European capital cities which he undertook in order to reassure the European countries and explain to them the need for German reunification.
German reunification (Zheleznovodsk, 15 July 1990)
ImageOn 15 July 1990, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, West German Foreign Minister, Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Soviet Union, and Helmut Kohl, German Chancellor, meet in Zheleznovodsk, in the Caucasus, to consider together the process of German reunification.
‘Germany in Europe — increased responsibilities' from Europe (3 October 1990)
TexteOn 3 October 1990, Emanuele Gazzo, Chief Editor of Agence Europe, comments on the reunification of Germany and analyses the role of a unified Germany in the European Community.
'Joy leaves heartache in London and Paris' from The Guardian (4 October 1990)
TexteOn 4 October 1990, the British left-wing newspaper The Guardian describes the fears of the British and French authorities at the prospect of German reunification.
Cartoon by Hanel on the international problem of German reunification (1990)
Image‘It’s reunification …’ In 1990, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, illustrates the fears and mistrust of the Western countries regarding the fresh clout of the reunified Germany on the international stage.
Cartoon by Hanel on German reunification (1990)
Image‘Meeting.' In 1990, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, portrays the discrepancy between the rapidity of German reunification and the slow process of European integration.
Interview with Jean-Jacques Kasel: doubts over the repercussions of the fall of the Berlin Wall (Sanem, 4 September 2007)
VidéoIn this interview, Jean-Jacques Kasel, Director of Political and Cultural Affairs at the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1992, discusses the reservations and doubts expressed by several Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the European Communities regarding the question of German reunification following the fall of the Berlin Wall during the night of 9 to 10 November 1989.
The fears of some European countries
Interview with Jacques Santer: European uncertainty as regards German reunification (Sanem, 3 May 2006)
VidéoIn this interview, Jacques Santer, former Luxembourg Prime Minster, recalls the fears expressed by Giulio Andreotti, Italian Prime Minister, and by François Mitterrand, French President, with regard to German reunification in the early 1990s.
Interview with Jean François-Poncet (Paris, 3 July 2008) — Excerpt: François Mitterrand and the fall of the Berlin Wall
VidéoIn this interview, Jean François-Poncet, former French Foreign Minister and current Senator for Lot-et-Garonne, recalls the attitude of the French President, François Mitterrand, in November 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down and the following year when Germany was reunified.
Interview with Élisabeth Guigou (Paris, 29 September 2008) — Excerpt: France and the fall of the Berlin Wall
VidéoIn this interview, Élisabeth Guigou, Secretary-General of the Interministerial Committee for Questions on European Economic Cooperation (SGCI) from 1985 to 1990 and Policy Officer to French President François Mitterrand from 1988 to 1990, discusses François Mitterrand’s attitude to the upheavals that culminated in the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of Germany in 1990.
The FRG and the international issue of reunification
Address given by Helmut Kohl on the German question and European responsibility (17 January 1990)
TexteOn 17 January 1990, Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), delivers an address on the importance of finding a response to the question of German reunification in a European context.
Government statement by the FRG on the Special European Council held in Dublin (Bonn, 10 May 1990)
TexteOn 10 May 1990, in his government statement to the Bundestag, Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), analyses the outcome of the Special European Council on German reunification held in Dublin.
Address given by Helmut Kohl on the reunification of Germany (New York, 5 June 1990)
TexteOn 5 June 1990, in New York, Chancellor Helmut Kohl addresses the American Council on Germany about the reunification of Germany and its integration into the international community of nations.
Letter from Helmut Kohl to the governments of the world on the occasion of German unification (Bonn, 3 October 1990)
TexteOn 3 October 1990, in a letter addressed to all governments maintaining diplomatic relations with Germany, the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, confirms reunified Germany’s determination to contribute to world peace and promote European integration.
Government declaration by Helmut Kohl on the international dimension of the reunification (Berlin, 4 October 1990)
TexteOn 4 October 1990, in his first government declaration to the Bundestag of the reunified Germany, Chancellor Helmut Kohl dwells on the international dimension of the reunification of the country.