Adam Boulton, TV-AM
Prime Minister, one thing you did agree at this Summit was concrete steps to progressive realisation of economic and monetary union. Does that mean one day, perhaps a long long time in the future, at least in economic terms we are going to be looking at the United States of Europe with a single currency and is that a dream you share?
Prime Minister
It is not a dream I share, because I think it is thoroughly impractical. I think most countries in Europe are pretty proud of their history and pretty proud of their infinite variety. They speak different languages, they did not all go, as people went to the United States, to get away from Europe, to get away to a different country with different opportunities. You can never deny history or the variety of cultures. [end p1]
What we are doing is to work more closely together to the benefit of all of us and for that purpose, we are putting trade barriers down, trying to get it easier for people, ideas, capital, money, to move around Europe.
Adam Boulton, TV-AM
Turning to one of the problems of European division, you are going to see Mr. Haughey today. You do not discuss those meetings, but can I ask you, in view of developments and the recent failure of an extradition from the Republic, in view of the continued violence—another bomb today—are you satisfied with the way the Anglo-Irish Agreement is working?
Prime Minister
We shall be discussing this. I am not satisfied, as I have indicated, with the amount of cross-border cooperation. It is absolutely vital that we get maximum cooperation to defeat terrorism and that is in the interests of all peoples. [end p2]
Adam Boulton, TV-AM
There does seem, both in Britain and Ireland, to be considerable dissatisfaction with the status quo of the problem, the “Troops Out Movement” celebrate their 20th anniversary this week we hear repeatedly, also the House of Commons will be discussing fair employment in the Province. Are we on the brink of a new initiative, a new political initiative, involving all three elements?
Prime Minister
No, I do not think so. We are still working the Anglo-Irish Agreement and trying to step up the efficiency with which it is working.
Adam Boulton, TV-AM
So there is no new initiative?
Prime Minister
No.