In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Honorary Belgian Ambassador, Director of the Press Office and Spokesman for the Belgian Foreign Ministry from 1966 to 1968, describes the personality and approach of Paul-Henri Spaak, Belgian Foreign Minister, and particularly his role in crafting the Luxembourg Compromise in January 1966 following the empty chair crisis triggered by France, as well as Spaak’s prior meeting with Maurice Couve de Murville, French Foreign Minister.

In this interview excerpt, Philippe de Schoutheete, Honorary Belgian Ambassador and Belgian Permanent Representative to the European Union from 1987 to 1997, explains the effects of the Luxembourg Compromise on Council practice, and particularly describes how for several years, although it was rarely invoked, the Council virtually never voted by a qualified majority. As time has gone on, this compromise has been somewhat forgotten, but it remains general practice to seek a consensus where possible.