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Hallstein, Walter

Article — Digitized Version Long live “Conservatism”!

Intereconomics

Suggested Citation: Hallstein, Walter (1976) : Long live “Conservatism”!, Intereconomics, ISSN 0020-5346, Verlag Weltarchiv, Hamburg, Vol. 11, Iss. 3, pp. 70-71, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02929630

This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/139349

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Long Live "Conservatism.

Interview with Professor Dr , the former President of the EEC Commission (1958-67) on Tindemans' "Report on the ".

IE: Herr Professor Hallstein, hardly be brought into being by clear and binding arrangement Mr Leo Tindemans, the Belgian 1980. of competencies. (I have my Premier, says in his "Report on doubts.) To allow the President the European Union" that the IE: Tindemans proposes in his of the Council to stay longer in European Union, which is to Report a number of "institution- the chair may well be worth try- bring a political merger as well al" measures for the strengthen- ing out. A right of initiative for as the Economic and Monetary ing of the Community institutions. the Parliament is a good thing Union, cannot be brought into The of the - as is everything that makes being by 1980 as planned. Does heads of government for in- the Parliament stronger; for it is this assessment not come as a stance is to be empowered to not by the peoples that progress disappointment to you with your issue concrete instructions to is retarded. It is also highly intimate knowledge of and active the EC institutions or individual desirable that the Commission participation in the work of persons, the President of the should be strengthened; it is by European unification and your Council of Ministers is to stay in its nature ahead of the other ten years of service as President office for one year instead of six organs. Whether all this is "at- of the EEC? months as hitherto, the EC Par- tainable in the near future" only liament is to be allowed a "right a true prophet can say; but HALLSTEIN: It is impossible of initiative" for new steps for- "prophecies are difficult", said to answer your question as long ward, the EC Commission is as the young Lord, "especially as it is not certain what the far as possible to be given de- about the future". It cannot how- "European Union" is, No binding cretory rights, etc. Are these ever be argued against any of definition has as yet been reach- proposed measures adequate the improvements that they are ed, and opinions still differ. and are they - a much more not possible; all that is needed There is only a modicum of important question - attainable is more determination than those agreement that it is an intermedi- in the near future? responsible have so far mus- ate phase between the "European tered. Economic Community" and the HALLSTEIN: Institutional (or ultimate stage of the unification properly speaking: organisa- IE: Beside the new institutions process, which - according to tional) issues undeniably call for which are to be created the the dominant view - is the stronger answers than the bash- Report proposes that the EC "Federation". Whether the Union ful governments seem to en- Council of Ministers should in will arise by 1980 thus depends visage so far. The details are a future take majority decisions or upon what demands are made matter for argument, however. the EC states finding themselves for it. If one is modest, it will be For example: The heads of in a minority during the discus- achieved earlier; if one is more government have up to now sion should give way to the ambitious (as Leo Tindemans is, distinguished themselves by majority "voluntarily". How do fortunately), it will take longer. words rather than by vigorous you judge the political prospects For the Union & la Tindemans he action; one may also dispute for the realization of this pro- is probably right: Whether this whether arbitrary allocation of posal? is disappointing or not, the competencies - in one instance Union (Economic and Monetary to A, in another to B, in yet an- HALLSTEIN: Majority de- Union, "common" foreign policy other to C - ensures substan- cisions were already enjoined and security policy, etc.) can tively better decisions than a by the Treaty of Rome; to

70 INTERECONOMICS, No. 3, 1976 INTERVIEW dispense with them systemat- carefully. The stringent rule must IE: Is two-tier integration of ically is a perpetual violation of be: Uniformity of attitudes in the the foreign policy of the - the Treaty. However, I had to Community. Distinctly circum- pean Union conceivable and remind the European Congress scribed exemptions should how- practicable, analogous to two- at its final meeting in Brussels ever be permissible under strict tier implementation of the Eco- (on February 7, 1976) already conditions, perhaps: (1) on valid nomic and Monetary Union? that majority decisions are only application, (2) subject to condi- provided for the adoption of pro- tions imposed on the member HALLSTEIN: No. The differ- posals by the Commission; this state claiming exemption, to ence is this that in the case of is a protection against majority ensure that he makes all efforts the Economic and Monetary rights being abused. To hope to catch up with the others, (3) Union objective difficulties may that the minority will submit to concomitant with solidary assis- arise for individual member the majority of its own accord is tance by the other member states such as can only be over- come by overdimensional efforts. pious self-deception, as has states, (4) for a specified time been proved by the sabotage of only. I see no analogous hazard in the majority voting in the Com- field of foreign policy. We do not munity. Leo Tindemans says IE: The Tindemans Report de- have to rely here on our imag- nothing to the contrary - at mands a cohesive common stand ination but can also draw on least not plainly. If this sabotage by the nine EC countries towards experience, e.g. with the com- goes on, an appeal should be the outside world in order to mon stand of the Community lodged with the European Court regain the lost influence on countries at the Conference for of Justice. world-political and international Security and Cooperation in economic developments. This Europe. IE: The recommendation of includes a common security IE: The Tindemans Report has graduated progress towards the policy. How do you judge the given rise to divergent assess- Economic and Monetary Union prospects for the realization of ments. The most severe criticism has aroused fervent protests. such a common foreign policy? has come from Dr Sicco Mans- What problems will arise if the holt, formerly a Vice President HALLSTEIN: This demand integration is not carried out at and President of the EC Com- also merits support. It is not un- the same pace but varied ac- mission and now Vice Chairman acceptable. A common foreign cording to the capabilities of the of the Association of Social policy is by no means more member states? Democratic Parties in the EC. No difficult of execution than a solution at all, he has said, was HALLSTEIN: That is the most common economic and social better than a "conservative" difficult problem posed by the policy. On the contrary: To solution of the European ques- Tindemans Report - with great establish the Economic and tion as proposed in this Report. courage, it must be acknowl- Monetary Union is the more Do you share this view? edged. The European Congress difficult undertaking. The same has come out against it. But in is true of the security policy; the HALLSTEIN: No. If the Tinde- principle I share the view of the existence and functioning of mans Report is "conservative", Belgian Premier. The procedure Nato prove it. They also prove it I can only say: Long live conser- must however be determined to be practicable. vatism !

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INTERECONOMICS, No. 3, 1976 71