German View of European Community

Chancellor Helmut Kohl gave the German Parliament a report on the European Community Summit held in Maastricht, The Netherlands. The 12 member countries in the community met there to work on final negotiations on a treaty for political and economic union. Chancellor Kohl stated that the way toward a European union is irreversible. Germany has been a strong advocate of a united Europe. Ingrid Matthaus-Maier, the deputy leader of the Social Democratic opposition party responded to Mr. Kohl. She criticized the German negotiators for weakening the treaty in regards to its provisions dealing with the European Parliament and the social union. Translation from the German into English was provided by voiceover. close