}
challenges of the 1990s.
12.
Talk of Europe, and the 1990s, inevitably and rightly reminds us of the primary challenge facing the Community today: 1992
and completion of the Single Market programme. The UK has consistently argued for the creation of a Single Market. France, Britain and our other partners firmly agree that the process is irreversible. I am delighted that the Single Market is now top of the Community's agenda. It represents a pragmatic, attainable and actively beneficial step for the Twelve. And it represents an opportunity which our businessmen have been waiting for: to enjoy free and fair competition throughout the Community. That's why
Mrs Thatcher in her speech in Bruges last Sepember emphasised our firm commitment to a Europe which is open to enterprise, open to the
outside world, free from excess regulation, and firmly founded on free market principles and the spirit of enterprise.
13. The breaking down of barriers which 1992 represents is perhaps
the best current example of how pragmatism and a commitment to freedom work in practice. It is self-evidently sensible to create a Single Market of 320 million consumers, the largest in the world.
Our guiding light is freedom. A freedom from which all Europe's citizens will benefit. Our aim: a Europe, to use M Rocard's words in his speech in London in February, capable of releasing 'creative
impulses'; a Europe truly in the service of the people'. A Europe
which combines a common determination to move forward for the good
of all, with respect for the diversity of the heritage which gives
Europe its strength.
14. As the European Council in Rhodes last December made clear, the internal market will not close in on itself; 1992 will be a partner
and not 'Fortress Europe'. This is vitally important for the
Community which accounts for 20% of world trade. The dynamism we
expect the 1992 process to generate would be stifled if we took a
protectionist approach towards our trading partners. But I believe
that the Community should use its internal liberalisation to press
for more open markets generally in the current GATT negotiations.
The Uruguay Round represents a major opportunity to strengthen the
multilateral trading system and extend it to new areas. The UK is