In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former French Junior Minister for European Affairs, describes the atmosphere and proceedings at the Council of the European Union held in Milan on 28 and 29 June 1985, with particular regard to the decision taken by the Ten, after strong pressure had been exerted by the Italian Presidency, to convene an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to amend and supplement the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC).

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former French Junior Minister for European Affairs, describes the implications of and proceedings at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which, in 1985 and 1986, resulted in the Twelve concluding the Single European Act (SEA).

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former French Junior Minister for European Affairs, describes the implications of and proceedings at the Luxembourg European Council, held on 2 and 3 December 1985, and, in particular, how the Heads of State or Government of the Ten finally succeeded in reviving the negotiations of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which, in 1985 and 1986, resulted in the Twelve concluding the Single European Act (SEA).

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former French Junior Minister for European Affairs, describes the French priorities, particularly in the social and cultural fields, during the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which, in 1985 and 1986, resulted in the Twelve concluding the Single European Act (SEA).

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former State Secretary to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs, explains why 1985 was considered a ‘good year’. She particularly refers to the end of the British crisis, the arrival of Jacques Delors at the Commission, the end of the negotiations for the accession of Spain and Portugal, the adoption of the principle of the mutual recognition of standards and the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which led the Twelve to conclude the Single European Act (SEA) in 1985–1986.