Excerpt from the speech delivered by Jean Monnet at the inauguration of the ECSC High Authority in Luxembourg. The Members of the institution pledge solemnly to perform their duties with complete independence.
On 7 March 1966, General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, sends a letter to the US President, Lyndon B. Johnson, to inform him of France’s decision to resume total control of sovereignty within its national territory and of its intention to withdraw its forces from the integrated command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
‘I don't know what effect he'll have on the enemy, but by heaven! - he frightens me' On 26 May 1952, the day before the signing of the Treaty instituting the European Defence Community (EDC), the British cartoonist Cummings portrays French fears about the risk of German rearmament.
‘Vivid portrayal of the many and diverse operations (conferences) undertaken to rescue a ‘Europe' in grave mortal danger — "… no, really, be reasonable — we would have to pay much too high a price for that lifebelt over there! (Only to be used after establishment of a customs, economic and monetary entity — altruism) — In the meantime, take a look at all the wonderful plans that we're putting in place for your rescue — and just hang on in there, Europe!"' In April 1950, the German satirical magazine Der Tintenfisch portrays the growing number of projects designed to come to the rescue of a Europe in the throes of integration.
On 22 June 2005, in a plenary sitting of the European Parliament in Brussels, the Italian Monica Frassoni, Co-Chairman of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), gives an address on the achievements of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
‘Polling booth 1: Europe needs you! “Convinced Europeans?”’ On 10 July 2005, the Luxembourg cartoonist, Schneider, depicts the decisive role played by Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister, during the national referendum on the ratification of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe and questions the national electorate’s commitment to Europe.
On 24 January 2004, at a seminar held in Valletta by the Maltese Chamber of Commerce, Edward Fenech Adami, Maltese Prime Minister, delivers an address on the costs and benefits for the island of accession to the European Union.
