In this interview excerpt, Mark Eyskens, Belgian Minister for Finance from 1980 to 1981, Prime Minister in 1981, Minister for Economic Affairs from 1981 to 1985 and Minister for External Relations from 1989 to 1992, reviews the advantages of European integration for Belgian development. He also discusses the nature of the European model that, in his view, is defined by a pluralist democracy, a socially corrected market economy, the rule of law and a system of social security — a European model that should play an important role on the world stage.