Explosion fails to disrupt E.E.C. talks

Press, 4 December 1985, Page 8

Explosion fails to disrupt E.E.C. talks

NZPA-AP Luxemburg Twelve Western European leaders debated reforms to the Common Market yesterday as a terrorist tossed a bomb from a speeding car near a conference complex on the outskirts of Luxemburg. No-one was injured and the European leaders, meeting in a room several hundred metres from the bomb site, did not interrupt their session, conference officials said. The Police Commissioner, Mr Erwin Parmentier, said the explosive device, which he called a “bomb or stick of explosives” was hurled from a car on the highway between downtown Luxemburg and the airport. The bomb blew a small hole in the pavement and dented a protective barrier. Mr Pamentier said it was possible the device was thrown by the same terrorists who have exploded bombs at 14 different locations in the Duchy of Luxemburg since May 7. Several people have been injured but no arrests have been made and there have been no public claims of responsibility. The European leaders

were studying important reforms to the Treaty of Rome, which established the Common Market in 1957. While the leaders worked, their officials prepared a declaration of support for results of the super-Power summit last month in Geneva. The leaders debated whether to reshape the bloc to meet new challenges posed by its imminent enlargement and tougher foreign competition. The summit conference, attended by Spain and Portugal, which joined the group on January 1, met amid speculation that only limited reform was likely. Objections must be overcome both from member countries wanting greater integration and those wanting none. Likely reforms include minor amendments to the Treaty of Rome to ease decision-making, slightly boost the limited role of the European Parliament and put existing co-operation on foreign policy into treaty form.

The 12 leaders are under strong pressure from their Parliament and from European industry to make clear-cut decisions, while thousands of federalists

from throughout the community demonstrated for closer integration. The Parliament, in a statement read by its President, Pierre Pflimlin, criticised the limited reforms envisaged by most member Governments and urged practical moves to strengthen the E.E.C.

The Parliament called for, “a Europe without frontiers and with a single market and a proper currency of its own.” If this were not achieved, community leaders must take the blame for the weakening of their countries’ economies, the gradual obsolescence of their technology, higher unemployment and lack of social, progress, it said.

The statement came after an unprecedented appeal to the summit conference by 27 of the E.E.C.’s most prominent industrialists. European industry urgently needed a clear signal that the important goals laid down by the Treaty of Rome would be achieved over the next five-years, they said in a reference to a pledge by the Milan summit conference in June to complete the dismantling of national barriers within the community by 1992.

Denmark has insisted on protecting its higher standards of environment and consumer protection by keeping out imports from other countries. Britain and Ireland want to maintain border controls that would prevent the spread of rabies and other animal and plant diseases from the continent. West Germany and Britain are against proposals for monetary union that could undermine the roles of their central banks. Few members are prepared to agree with Italian demands that the European Parliament should eventually be given an equal say in community decisions with the now all-powerful Council of Ministers representing member Governments. Delegates said there was a move to postpone decisions if the summit conference was unable to make the needed breakthrough.

Dutch officials who will take over the E.E.C. presidency from Luxemburg on January 1 said Britain, France and West Germany insisted that decisions be reached today and implemented immediately, without waiting for the usual long parliamentary ratifications in each State.