In this interview, Marcelino Oreja, Secretary General of the Council of Europe from 1984 to 1989, Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1993 and Member of the European Commission from 1994 to 1999, describes these posts and his role. He explains that in the Council of Europe, the priorities are cooperation between European countries and the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms from a legal, political and social viewpoint, not forgetting the European cultural dimension. He describes his experience on the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs, particularly in the light of the challenges represented by the Treaty of Maastricht and by monetary union. He also looks back at his various roles and activities as Chairman of the Joint Committee for European Union in the Spanish Parliament, and as Member of the European Commission.