Dans cet extrait d'interview, Mark Eyskens, ministre belge des Finances de 1980 à 1981, Premier ministre en 1981, ministre des Affaires économiques de 1981 à 1985 et ministre des Relations extérieures de 1989 à 1992, souligne le rôle d'intermédiaire que les petits États membres de l'Union européenne peuvent jouer lors des grandes négociations communautaires et revient sur quelques initiatives prises par la Belgique, notamment la proposition belge faite dans le cadre des négociations menant à la signature du traité de Maastricht sur l'Union européenne.

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, gives a mixed review of the activities of Benelux as a laboratory for Europe and as a model for other world regions. He also emphasises the reasons why Benelux cooperation gradually became less important over the years.

In this interview excerpt, Mark Eyskens, Prime Minister of Belgium in 1981 and Minister for External Relations from 1989 to 1992, emphasises the symbolism associated with the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the compromise negotiated in this connection at the 1990 Dublin European Council. He also discusses the location of European agencies in Central and Eastern Europe.

In this interview excerpt, Mark Eyskens, Belgian Finance Minister 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, emphasises the role of intermediary that the small Member States of the European Union (EU) can play in major negotiations at EU level, and looks back on some initiatives taken by Belgium, particularly the proposal made by the country in connection with the negotiations that led to the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht on European Union.