Schuijt, Wilhelmus.

English

Archive of European Integration

-------~---~-In January  of  this  year,  we  enjoyed  an  opportunity  to  meet,  in Brussels  and  Luxembourg,  with  members  of  the  Hays  and  Means  Committee and  later of  the  Subcommittees  on  Europe  and  on  International Organizations and  Hovements. He  came  away  with  the  impression  that  these modest initial discussions  between  elected  representatives  of  the  American  people  and parliamentarians  from  the  EEC  countries  answered  a  real need.  He  saw that  further  contacts  could  become  a  valuable  support  to negotiations Hhich will continue  between  the United States  and  the  European  Community  in  the months  and,  indeed,  years  to  come. He  appreciate  the initiative,  taken by  our  American  colleagues, Mr.  Rosenthal  and  Hr.  Fraser,  Jf sending  the  invitation vlhich  has  enabled  us to be here  today. A  few  \vords  about  the  nature  of  our Delegation: My  colleagues  and  I  are  not  members  of  a  single  c,ummittee  set up to deal specifically with  relations between  the United States  and  the European  Community.  Our  Delegation  includes  members  of  the  four political ..  I .. ~ 2 -gnmps  i.n  the  European Parlimnent  (Chrisdan-Dc~mocrats, Socialists, Liberals  ond  meniliers  of  the  European  Democratic Union)  which  are broadly ruprcscntutiva of  the  political structure of  our  Met~er States;  we  come from all  tht~  Community  countries \vi th  the exception of  the Grand-Duchy of  Luxembourg. The  Delegation as  such has  no  binding  mandate  or preconceived position on  any  matters  concerning relations between  the United  States  and European  Community.  Its main  task is  to  gather  information  and  establish contacts.  Above  all \ve  hope  to  as certain  the  opinions  and  feelings  of  our American  colleagues  on  the  different issues which we  shall have  occasion to  consider.  Each  one  of  us  will set forth his  personal point  of  view  and take  note  of  relevant  information  learned here  so  that he  can  discuss  these matters,  with  a  full knmvledge  of  the  facts,  in his  mvn  political group  and make  his voice heard  in  the  internal debates  of  the  Community  institutions. Our  Delegation  does  not  intend merely  to  repeat  the  arguments \vhich  have  been put  forward  on  either side at  the  level  of  governments  or experts but  rather  to  enquire into  the  background  of  these  arguments,  their justification and  the  underlying objectives.  Above  all \ve  wish  to  open  a dialogue which will not  end when  we  leave  the United  States but  may  be continued at regular  intervals  and  developed  further in a  spirit of  mutual understanding. . . I .. 'l'his  is  not merely  a  dJ.plomatic  or even  a  governmental  concern. But it should be,  I  ventura  to sayi  n matter of  permanent  preoccupation for  the  elected  representatives  of  our  oeoples -- which  we  are. We  have  l1ad  opportunity  to  discuss  political and  economic  matters of  immense  interest  to all of  us.  I  am  convinced  that  these  open  and frank  discussions will contribute  to  a  deeper mutual  understanding,  and this  conviction is based  on  my  experience  as  a  Member  of  the European Parliament. As  you know,  this  Parliament is  c0mposed  of  parliamentarians  from all the Nember  States.  Despite,  hm..rever,  the  rich variety  of  our parliamenta-ry  traditions  and  the  fact  that we  usually  have  to  mFke  ourselves  understood through  simultaneous  interpreters, we  have  managed  to  develop  a  common parliamentary  language.  He  have  discovered  among  ourselves  a  common  concern to  dismantle  the highly  developed  technocracy  of political and  even more of  economic  decision-making,  and  a  common  concern  to bring  some  common  sense into  the  process~  common  sense being  one  of  the basic values  of  democracy. The  prospective  enlarged  Community  of  Ten '..rill,  in my  opinion,  have to  develop  this  incomplete structure very  rapidly  in order  to  be  able  to grapple with  the  crucial problems  that will  face it.  To  cite but  one example  - external' relations  - \ve  can surely  expect  that  this  enlarged Community  will,  together Hith  the  United States,  have  to bear  the  important ..  I .. rusponsib:tHty  for init:i.ating and  carrying  through  tiw next  nwJor liberal.hation  l."Ound  in  the  framet..rork  of  the  General  Agn~(WKHH·  on  'l'nr U f u and  Trude.  I  \>Jould  even  V<:!nturc  to say  that  this  ne:xt  round will gn beyond  trade  liberalization in  the  classical sense  and  \vill hnvo  Co  ~;ll<o teh out  the  guidelines  of  a  future  and  more  balanced  tvorld  economy,  Tho  Hi'HIIt• can be said of  financial  relktions where  we  also  have  to  face  the  nrospacr of  transforming  the  existing system. The· Community  '"ill have  to  take highly  important  dedsions directly affecting  the welfare  and  security  of its citizens.  Since  our citizens \vilJ.  not  accept  that  these  decisions  should be  taken without  theit direct  consent  and  participation,  the  Conununity  will,  I  am  sure,  hnve  to grmv  into  a  much  more  politicized organismo I  would  like  to  drmv  your  attention to  the  fact  that  we  are  At:l.11 at  a  pre-feder~l  stage when  the  problems  we  are  faced  with greatly  exceed the  ans~.;rers  that might  be  offered. The  point  I  would  like  to  make  is  this:  most  federations, including  the  federation  of  the  United  States,  had  sufficient  time  to develop  internally before  coming  under  the pressure of  predominantly  intor-national  problems.  In  the  case  of  the  European  Community  it iG  rather  tho other way  around:  "the  pressure  to  contribute  to  the  settlement  of  tn turn a tJotHI l •  I  I .. .. w  A.ZJUWP,  j  J.  a  a - 5 -prnhl  ems  IH'H(~(·des  internal  tleVf:!lop11lCI1t.  As  n  rmm.l t,  tlw  Dut:t;i(!C  world nrtun  t'l~gnrd1J  tlw  Community  as  similar  to  a  nation-state although  its poHt;y-nHlking  nhiUty is  far  J.ess.  I  think it is  not  unfair  to  ask you  to  baor  this  fact  in  mind. l  am  m.,rnre  that  this  emergent  European  C.ommuni.ty  is  not  an  easy lHtl'l:llcl'  for  our  American  friends,  but,  on  the  other hand,  there  is  no nlternot!ve  to  partnership.  There  are  too  many  basic values  common  to Europe  und  to  the  United  Stutes.  If \ve  J.ook  at  thl'?.  :n1rning problems  of our  fellow-men,  most  of  whom  are still unable  to satisfy  their basic needs, wo  realize  that we  must  not  behave  as  though  we  were  two  islands  cut  off from  tlw  rest  of  the  world.  On  the  contrary,  \ve  must  pool  our  resources in  .:1  long·~tcrm effort  to help  mankind  to  a  better sccial,  economic, democratic  and  peaceful  future. 

Remarks [on EC-US relations] by Wilhelmus Schuijt, leader of a delegation of visiting members of the European Parliament at a plenary meeting with members of the United States Congress. Washington DC, 31 May 1972

-------~---~-
In January of this year, we enjoyed an opportunity to meet, in 
Brussels and Luxembourg, with members of the Hays and Means Committee 
and later of the Subcommittees on Europe and on International Organizations 
and Hovements. 
He came away with the impression that these modest initial 
discussions between elected representatives of the American people and 
parliamentarians from the EEC countries answered a real need. He saw 
that further contacts could become a valuable support to negotiations Hhich 
will continue between the United States and the European Community in the 
months and, indeed, years to come. 
He appreciate the initiative, taken by our American colleagues, 
Mr. Rosenthal and Hr. Fraser, Jf sending the invitation vlhich has enabled us 
to be here today. 
A few \vords about the nature of our Delegation: 
My colleagues and I are not members of a single c,ummittee set up 
to deal specifically with relations between the United States and the 
European Community. Our Delegation includes members of the four political 
.. I .. 
~ 2 -
gnmps i.n the European Parlimnent (Chrisdan-Dc~mocrats, Socialists, 
Liberals ond meniliers of the European Democratic Union) which are broadly 
ruprcscntutiva of the political structure of our Met~er States; we come 
from all tht~ Community countries \vi th the exception of the Grand-Duchy 
of Luxembourg. 
The Delegation as such has no binding mandate or preconceived 
position on any matters concerning relations between the United States and 
European Community. Its main task is to gather information and establish 
contacts. Above all \ve hope to as certain the opinions and feelings of our 
American colleagues on the different issues which we shall have occasion 
to consider. Each one of us will set forth his personal point of view and 
take note of relevant information learned here so that he can discuss these 
matters, with a full knmvledge of the facts, in his mvn political group and 
make his voice heard in the internal debates of the Community institutions. 
Our Delegation does not intend merely to repeat the arguments 
\vhich have been put forward on either side at the level of governments or 
experts but rather to enquire into the background of these arguments, their 
justification and the underlying objectives. Above all \ve wish to open a 
dialogue which will not end when we leave the United States but may be 
continued at regular intervals and developed further in a spirit of mutual 
understanding. 
. . I . . 
'l'his is not merely a dJ.plomatic or even a governmental concern. 
But it should be, I ventura to sayi n matter of permanent preoccupation 
for the elected representatives of our oeoples -- which we are. 
We have l1ad opportunity to discuss political and economic matters 
of immense interest to all of us. I am convinced that these open and 
frank discussions will contribute to a deeper mutual understanding, and 
this conviction is based on my experience as a Member of the European 
Parliament. 
As you know, this Parliament is c0mposed of parliamentarians from 
all the Nember States. Despite, hm..rever, the rich variety of our parliamenta-
ry traditions and the fact that we usually have to mFke ourselves understood 
through simultaneous interpreters, we have managed to develop a common 
parliamentary language. He have discovered among ourselves a common concern 
to dismantle the highly developed technocracy of political and even more 
of economic decision-making, and a common concern to bring some common sense 
into the process~ common sense being one of the basic values of democracy. 
The prospective enlarged Community of Ten '..rill, in my opinion, have 
to develop this incomplete structure very rapidly in order to be able to 
grapple with the crucial problems that will face it. To cite but one 
example - external' relations - \ve can surely expect that this enlarged 
Community will, together Hith the United States, have to bear the important 
.. I .. 
rusponsib:tHty for init:i.ating and carrying through tiw next nwJor 
liberal.hation l."Ound in the framet..rork of the General Agn~(WKHH· on 'l'nr U f u 
and Trude. I \>Jould even V<:!nturc to say that this ne:xt round will gn 
beyond trade liberalization in the classical sense and \vill hnvo Co ~;ll<o teh 
out the guidelines of a future and more balanced tvorld economy, Tho Hi'HIIt• 
can be said of financial relktions where we also have to face the nrospacr 
of transforming the existing system. 
The· Community '"ill have to take highly important dedsions 
directly affecting the welfare and security of its citizens. Since our 
citizens \vilJ. not accept that these decisions should be taken without theit 
direct consent and participation, the Conununity will, I am sure, hnve to 
grmv into a much more politicized organismo 
I would like to drmv your attention to the fact that we are At:l.11 
at a pre-feder~l stage when the problems we are faced with greatly exceed 
the ans~.;rers that might be offered. 
The point I would like to make is this: most federations, 
including the federation of the United States, had sufficient time to 
develop internally before coming under the pressure of predominantly intor-
national problems. In the case of the European Community it iG rather tho 
other way around: "the pressure to contribute to the settlement of tn turn a tJotHI l 
• I I .. 
.. w A.ZJUWP, j J. a a 
- 5 -
prnhl ems IH'H(~(·des internal tleVf:!lop11lCI1t. As n rmm.l t, tlw Dut:t;i(!C world 
nrtun t'l~gnrd1J tlw Community as similar to a nation-state although its 
poHt;y-nHlking nhiUty is far J.ess. I think it is not unfair to ask 
you to baor this fact in mind. 
l am m.,rnre that this emergent European C.ommuni.ty is not an easy 
lHtl'l:llcl' for our American friends, but, on the other hand, there is no 
nlternot!ve to partnership. There are too many basic values common to 
Europe und to the United Stutes. If \ve J.ook at thl'?. :n1rning problems of 
our fellow-men, most of whom are still unable to satisfy their basic needs, 
wo realize that we must not behave as though we were two islands cut off 
from tlw rest of the world. On the contrary, \ve must pool our resources 
in .:1 long·~tcrm effort to help mankind to a better sccial, economic, 
democratic and peaceful future. 


Remarks [on EC-US relations] by Wilhelmus Schuijt, leader of a delegation of visiting members of the European Parliament at a plenary meeting with members of the United States Congress. Washington DC, 31 May 1972

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Archive of European Integration

Archive of European Integration