, 18:25
RIPT A PM/CHANCELLOR KOHL
6
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PC
11 NOVEMBER 1992
ulture of all member states.
Maastricht is not, as occasionally
is said here in Great Britain, the starting point for the
development of a centralist Europe, nobody wants this. We wish
in future with the Maastricht Treaty as Germans, Britons, Italians
and French, we wish to remain within our national identities.
we agreed that at Edinburgh we shall discuss the question of new
states, of EFTA states, to the European Community. I hope that we
will be successful in ensuring that at the beginning of 1993
negotiations can begin, and this is another area where we agree.
A further focal point of our discussion of course concerns
ratification and the implementation of the Maastricht Treaty.
Prime Minister Major explained to me once again the reasons why
the ratification procedure in Great Britain has been postponed to
the first half of 1993. I wish to state quite clearly that I of
course respect this decision, this is a British decision, I have
much comprehension for the problems and the difficulties which
have been encountered and which have led to this decision.
quite sure that the Prime Minister will undoubtedly ensure that
the treaty is ratified and this is my particular wish and that of
the German people.
I am
What is decisive for us is that the treaty should remain unchanged
and should be ratified by all states within the Community so that
it can then come into force in 1993. As you know, but I will
repeat this once again, we shall be discussing the treaty and