The EP has made a real political work in the context of German unification. Indeed, the EP was the first EU institution to speak about a possible German unification. In the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall, François MITTERRAND, President of the French Republic and Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, came to speak before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22 November 1989.

KOHL, Helmut (DE)

BARÓN CRESPO, Enrique (PSE, ES)

MITTERRAND, François (FR)

PERY, Nicole (PSE, FR)

Address by Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, in formal sitting, on the situation in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall (Strasbourg, 22/11/1989)

Title: Address by Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, in formal sitting, on the situation in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin wall (Strasbourg, 22/11/1989)

Arrival of Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, welcomed by Nicole PERY (EP Vice-President)

Arrival of Fran&ccedil;ois MITTERRAND, President of the French Republic and Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, in the hemicycle, they are cheering and applauding

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Enrique BARON CRESPO, EP President, "I now call on the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Helmut KOHL"

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "Mr President of the European Parliament, Mr President of the French Republic, ladies and gentlemen, each of us senses that what is now happening in Europe &mdash; and especially Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe &mdash; is of historical importance. I thank you, Mr President, and the House very sincerely for this opportunity to explain the position of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany at this time."

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "The steps that must now be taken &mdash; giving substance to the social dimension of the internal market so that the many millions of workers and their representatives in the trade unions feel enthusiastic about this Europe not only in their minds but also in their hearts, and taking the decisions needed if there is to be an Economic and Monetary Union &mdash; are important milestones on this road. In short, development in the European Community must continue."

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "At the same time, the political, economic and social systems of more and more countries in the East of our continent are undergoing fundamental change at breathtaking speed. One of the main factors that has triggered this development has been the policy of perestroika initiated by General Secretary Gorbachev. He deserves our respect for this." (Applause)

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "In Hungary and Poland &mdash; and now in the GDR&mdash;it has been the people themselves who have cleared the way for radical reforms. The same will be true &mdash; we all hope &mdash; of Bulgaria and, in the near future, Romania. As everyone knows, the process is already under way in Czechoslovakia. The pictures from Prague arouse in us heart-felt sympathy and hope for the people of Czechoslovakia." (Applause)

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "It has been the renewed dynanism of the process of European unification in recent years that has given the processes of reform in the countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European such strong encouragement. We would therefore be making a bad mistake and completely misjudging the situation if we were to deprive this process of European unification of its momentum at this of all times." (Applause)

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "Let all those who have doubts about the position of the Federal Republic of Germany take note: the Federal German Government stands by the Single Act and its goals in every respect. It is a staunch supporter of the completion of the European Union, We see no alternative to the continuation and strengthening of the process of European unification"

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "People not only in Germany but throughout Europe and the world have been held spellbound by the dramatic events in the GDR. Since the night of 9/10 November the situation in Germany &mdash; in the heart of Europe &mdash; has changed fundamentally. The yearning of Germans in East Berlin and in the GDR for freedom has resulted in the Wall and the barbed wire being breached peacefully. After almost three decades of division the people of Germany have been celebrating the fact that they can meet again, that they belong together and that they are one nation."

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "The people of the GDR now want freedom in every sphere of their lives. They want the right to form really independent, free parties, and in particular they want free, equal and secret elections as an expression of the genuine, real sovereignty of the people."

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "This also means that the Socialist Unity Party must give up its claim to have the sole right to govern the country and that its monopoly on power must be removed from fne GDR's constitution. The right of all Germans to self-determination has not been respected. Germans in the GDR have this right just as Germans in the Federal Republic do." (Applause)

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "The Federal Government holds fast to the goal once formulated by Konrad Adenauer: in a free and united Europe a free and united Germany."

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut KOHL, German Federal Chancellor, "What is at stake is the freedom of one Europe. What is at stake is a future in joint freedom for all Germans and for all Europeans. Let us join together in this spirit and work for a just and lasting peaceful order for the whole of Europe. The Federal Republic of Germany is prepared to make its contribution to this major task." (Loud and sustained applause)