In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992 and Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994, explains that he believes it is not by chance that several Belgian politicians have played and continue to play a considerable role in European integration. He also holds the view that small countries will play an important role in the future process of European development.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992 and Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994, admits that the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 took him by surprise. This historical event, which signalled the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), paved the way for German reunification. Claes also emphasises the importance of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) during this period.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992, Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) from 1992 to 1994, describes his memories of the establishment of the PES at the Hague Congress in 1992, the difficulties within the party caused by differences of opinion and the role of European political parties.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992, Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) from 1992 to 1994, emphasises the importance, for the development of the European Parliament itself, of public funding for European political parties and their recognition in the treaties. Claes also discusses the European political party summits held prior to European Councils and the part they play in subsequent decisions taken at Community level.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from 1994 to 1995, shares his views on the European Union’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a role established by the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force on 1 December 2009.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from 1994 to 1995, gives his views on the Europe of defence and armaments, adding that he believes that the European Union should step up its commitment within NATO.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from 1994 to 1995, shares his thoughts on the neutral status of some European Union Member States in connection with the establishment of a Europe of defence. He reiterates his view that the European Union should strengthen its links with NATO.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from 1994 to 1995, gives his views on the ‘Berlin Plus’ agreements between NATO and the European Union in 2003.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992, Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from 1994 to 1995, explains his view that the solution for the deepening of the European Union is to adopt a multi-speed approach.

On 6 December 2012, Dr Tal Sadeh, Head of the Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy at Tel Aviv University, gave a talk on the crisis in the euro zone.