Bettino CraxiMr Prime Minister I welcome you and your colleagues. These regular meetings are valuable. Dr Johnson said that friendships should be kept in constant repair. We should follow his advice.
At the London Economic Summit four months ago, the world's seven major industrial democracies, Britain and Italy among them, issued a solemn declaration of democratic values. We asserted our commitment to the rule of law, to free expression and to genuine democracy in a world where these principles are often distorted or ignored. Our two countries are proud to belong to that group of nations and to those organisations which embody and defend those values: the Atlantic Alliance, the Council of Europe, the European Community.
We shall always be grateful for Italy's warm support some fifteen years ago which helped bring about our entry into the European Community. We have come a long way since then. At Fontainebleau we settled the debilitating controversy over Britain's Budget contribution. In the British [end p1] Government's paper “Europe—The Future” which I handed you at Fontainebleau I put forward to you and my fellow heads of government some ideas on the future of the Community. My vision is of a more outward-looking Europe; one which will make a more effective contribution to world peace and stability. I want to see the Community play a more active role not just in the handling of the problems of the world economy, but also in matters of European security, in managing East/West relations, in relations with developing countries, and as a shining example of what a group of free democracies can accomplish. A Community that is a genuine Common market in goods and services, such as will enable our countries to meet the technological challenge of Japan and the US.
On January 1 next year the reins will pass into your hands, Mr Prime Minister, as Italy undertakes the Presidency of the Community. I look forward especially to working closely with you then, and to visiting your native city of Milan for the European Council in June.
Europe is not just about economic growth and prosperity. It is about freedom of ideas and about the idea of freedom. Equally important, it is about the defence of [end p2] those ideas and freedoms. All of us in Europe and across the Atlantic recognise the need to improve our common defence effort. Our aim as Europeans is to complement and enhance the US commitment to Europe, which plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing our security.
Next week in Rome, on the initiative of your own Government, there will be a joint meeting of the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the WEU. That is an important opportunity to further our common cause, of better European defence cooperation.
At the same time, we must work for increased collaboration on procurement. Our own joint efforts are already substantial. The cooperation between Westland and Agusta (EH101) in helicopters is a fine start, on which we should build. The European fighter aircraft, which we must make a success, is a pointer to the future.
The Atlantic Alliance is above all a defensive one. It is from the basis of confidence in our ability to defend ourselves that we should seek to improve relations with the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe. We believe, as you do, in the patient process of [end p3] dialogue. This must include, but cannot be confined to, negotiations in arms control. We in the West have made far reaching proposals. We regret the slowness of the Soviet Union to respond in kind. But we are not discouraged. All of us in the Alliance will continue to seek negotiating settlements to the problems which divide us: it will be a long haul, but we shall persevere.
This has been a year of particular importance in our relations. A year in which, at a time when we had certain difficulties with Libya, your country at once and generously took on the task of protecting our interests there. We valued that and continue to appreciate all that you are doing for us under difficult circumstances. A year in which we were delighted to receive President Pertini, and to have the Genius of Venice Exhibition at the Royal Academy. The Queen Mother, and Prince Charlesthe Prince of Wales, are about to visit your country. We had hoped that Princess Diana might have gone there also this October; the Princess had other demands on her time! But that visit is only postponed! We have established a “Round Table” which met in Rome in May to assess the challenges of modern technology (a subject which I know interests you personally, Mr. Prime Minister). It has been a good year. [end p4] Italy means for us today a certain age-old tradition of civility and culture; a profound historical experience which is reflected in your international statesmanship; and a very modern, and admirable, spirit of enterprise, flair and expertise, summed up in your household names—from Olivetti to Gucci, from Ferrari to Fiat. We have always admired and learned from the old in your country. Now we want to work with the new.
Raise glass to you, Mr Prime Minister, and your colleagues, to the Italian people, and to our further cooperation.