Speech on European construction (1973)

Summary

Pompidou's 1973 speech on European construction argues for a sovereign, independent Europe capable of acting on the world stage and shaping its own destiny, moving beyond a purely economic project to embrace political and cultural dimensions. He posits that Europe must assert its identity against the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, and through a united approach, secure its economic prosperity and strategic autonomy.

The speech outlines key ideas for achieving this vision: the necessity of economic and monetary union as a foundation for political integration, the importance of an enlarged Europe including new members like the UK, and the need for a common foreign policy to speak with a single voice. Readers understand Pompidou's call for a Europe that is not merely a market but a political and cultural entity with global influence.

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Key concepts

• Enlargement of the European Community — The speech advocates for the inclusion of new member states to strengthen the Community's economic and political weight.
• European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) — Pompidou identifies economic and monetary convergence as a crucial step towards deeper political integration.
• European Political Union — The address calls for a move beyond economic cooperation to coordinated political action and a common foreign policy.
• European Sovereignty — A central theme is the assertion of Europe's independence and capacity to act autonomously in international affairs.