‘EEC — The troublesome cat from Brussels. Will it let them play again in Luxembourg?’ On 28 January 1966, as the Luxembourg Extraordinary European Council is held, German cartoonist Wilhelm Hartung illustrates the difficult negotiations to find a solution to the empty chair crisis, which has been paralysing Community operations for six months. Will it be possible to secure a political compromise to put an end to the trial of strength between France and its five European partners? And will there be any improvement in relations between General de Gaulle (on the right) and Federal Chancellor Erhard (on the left)? Since Ludwig Erhard has become Chancellor, relations between the two leaders have become decidedly strained.