In this interview excerpt, Paul Mertz, Deputy Director from 1970 to 1976 and Director from 1976 to 1981 in the Political Affairs Directorate of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describes the workings of the European Political Cooperation (EPC) pursued by the Member States of the European Community, under which they adopted common positions, sometimes associated with economic sanctions or incentives, on the various foreign policy issues.

In this interview excerpt, Paul Mertz, Deputy Director from 1970 to 1976 and Director from 1976 to 1981 in the Political Affairs Directorate of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses the personality and working method of Gaston Thorn, Luxembourg Prime Minister from 1974 to 1979, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade from 1969 to 1980 and President of the European Commission from 1981 to 1985.

In this interview excerpt, Paul Mertz, Deputy Director from 1970 to 1976 and Director from 1976 to 1981 in the Political Affairs Directorate of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses the issues surrounding the Second Follow-up Meeting to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), which was held in Madrid from 11 November 1980 to 9 September 1983.

In this interview excerpt, Paul Mertz, Deputy Director from 1970 to 1976 and Director from 1976 to 1981 in the Political Affairs Directorate of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the Council of Europe from 1971 to 1978, explains the role played by the Council of Europe in the 1970s. He also discusses the unsuccessful application of Luxembourg politician Henry Cravatte to the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

In this interview excerpt, Paul Mertz, Deputy Director from 1970 to 1976 and Director from 1976 to 1981 in the Political Affairs Directorate of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describes the preparations for the Venice Declaration of June 1980, in which the Nine called for the acknowledgment of the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and for the PLO to be involved in peace negotiations with Israel, and emphasises the importance of this declaration.