Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

TV Interview for ITN (visiting Madrid)

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Moncloa Palace, Madrid
Source: Thatcher Archive: COI transcript
Journalist: Peter Allen, ITN
Editorial comments: Between 1400 and 1425 MT gave interviews to British broadcasters. The transcriber noted that tape quality was very poor.
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 834
Themes: Defence (general), Economic, monetary & political union, European Union Single Market, Foreign policy (Western Europe - non-EU)
(NOTE: SOUND QUALITY VERY BAD INDEED.)

Peter Allen, ITN

Prime Minister, is it possible to summarise very briefly what you feel you have gained from this European trip?

Prime Minister

Yes, I think so.

Spain is becoming an increasingly prosperous and an increasingly influential nation. She is doing more in the international sphere than ever before. She has become increasingly prosperous as a member of the European Community. We are, in fact, cooperating very closely together with regard to that—much wider. We are doing far more trade together. We are cooperating very closely in trying to defeat the trade in drugs; very closely on trying to defeat crime and terrorism. These are very good for the benefit of all our peoples. [end p1]

Spain also is taking a far greater role in defence, which is important for the future of democracy. She joined NATO—that was a step forward—and she is seeking to join the Western European Union. We are in the Presidency of that and are supporting her application.

All that is extremely positive and forward looking and in an excellent atmosphere of friendship.

Peter Allen, ITN

From the tone set by your Bruges speech, the whole tour sounded like a one-woman crusade against centralised Europe. Is that unfair?

Prime Minister

It is a one-woman crusade accompanied by many other feelings of, I think, the overwhelming majority of people that they identify each with their own nation state—we are proud of our country—and that we want to work together in a family of nations as twelve nations, each being proud of our achievements and that we shall achieve a far better European endeavour together in that way than by handing over too many powers to Europe and having them exercised by a commission which could be very bureaucratic. We are trying to say: “Now look! Don't get that way! It will not do!” [end p2]

Peter Allen, ITN

At the same time, you are pushing ahead yourself with three hundred regulations which will implement a free market. That sounds itself like a great deal of centralised control; taking control away from Britain, giving it to other people.

Prime Minister

Just look at the number of individual regulations in individual countries which those three hundred agreements will replace.

If we are to have a Single Market, then we have to have agreements on certain safety standards, on certain things like noise levels, on certain computer standards, on certain standards in electrical plugs or television, on cathode tubes, and all of those things. A housewife has to know that if she buys food or a toy from Europe, that the safety regulations are the same and she is covered.

All of that is going to take time. We have to be certain that other countries will not subsidise their industries in competition with ours. This is to get free and fair competition with proper safety regulations. It will replace hundreds of habits and differences in Europe by one clear regulation for each thing—not too complicated—so that everyone understands it and they then make their goods and products accordingly. That will be good. [end p3]

Peter Allen, ITN

The point I was trying to make: that seems to be an increase of bureaucratic power in the centre—a decrease in our own identity—and it is part of a process which is going on, whatever you might be saying, in Europe—a centralised part.

Prime Minister

No. It means that we are voluntarily foregoing twelve different sets of regulations for one preferred regulation which we are negotiating very carefully, each of us, to see that it is fair to our own industries. That is foregoing twelve for one. That is an improvement.

Peter Allen, ITN

In your outright opposition to what has happened in Europe, to what Mr. Gonzalez, for instance, wants in a united Europe, do you feel that you are in a minority of one, you are the only leader who is taking this view?

Prime Minister

I do not know of any leader who wants to submerge the nationality or pride of his country in just a United States of Europe in practice. I heard a great deal of talk but I am very practical and you know, I have seen them all negotiate very toughly. [end p4] And why do they negotiate very toughly? I will tell you! Because they have got to go home and be answerable to their parliaments and that that is going to keep their feet on the ground and their heads rather less than six feet above them.

Peter Allen, ITN

So you do not think that that will happen—a United States of Europe?

Prime Minister

I myself do not think so. I think the whole history of Europe is totally different and I think it is as worthy an objective to work together as a family of twelve nations, each with our own particular pride and customs and traditions. You do not want to standardise everything—you want to relish the diversity and the identity of your own country.