Interview with Pierre Bernard-Reymond, State Secretary to the French Foreign Minister with responsibility for European Affairs from 1979 to 1981, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1999 and Senator for the Hautes-Alpes département from 2007 to 2014, carried out by the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe (CVCE) on 11 March 2009 at the French Senate in Paris. The interview was conducted by Frédéric Clavert, a Researcher at the CVCE, and particularly focuses on the following subjects: France’s European policy, the accession negotiations with Greece, Spain, Portugal and Romania, the development of the powers and roles of the European Parliament, the French Senate and European questions and the future prospects of the European Union.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, State Secretary for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1979 to 1981, discusses the political and technical reasons for the establishment of the State Secretariat for European Affairs in 1979, in particular Valéry Giscard d’Estaing’s interest in European integration and the French Presidency of the Council of the European Communities. He also refers to the impact of this Secretariat, noting the Gaullist influence in the Presidential majority at that time.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, State Secretary for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1979 to 1981, describes the establishment and the workings of the State Secretariat for European Affairs. He also emphasises the difficulties involved in taking action from within the political system owing to the clearly defined hierarchy and the delicate position of the Secretariat within the government. Nevertheless, he mentions his involvement in the renegotiations on the Lomé Convention.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, State Secretary for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1979 to 1981, recalls the concerns of the President of the French Republic, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, regarding the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities, and the consequences of their accession.

On 1 January 1986, the accession of Spain and Portugal brings the number of Member States of the European Communities to twelve.

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former French Junior Minister for European Affairs, describes the position adopted by French President François Mitterrand in 1984–1985, during the final stage of the negotiations for the accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Communities.

‘European Communities — Welcome to a united Europe!’ In 1985, German cartoonist, Hanel, illustrates Spain and Portugal’s accession to the European Communities which are divided and subject to internal disputes.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, State Secretary for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1979 to 1981 and Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1999, remembers Altiero Spinelli and especially his attachment to the idea of a European Constitution, but explains that he personally is in favour of progressive integration through successive treaties. Moreover, he emphasises the role of the European Commission, while playing down its impact in certain areas with regard to the power of the President of the Commission.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1999, explains that he would like to see an increase in the power of the Presidency of the European Parliament, for various reasons.

On 14 February 1984, by a very large majority (237 votes to 31, with 43 abstentions), the European Parliament adopts the draft Treaty on European Union, also known as the ‘Spinelli draft’, which has the ultimate aim of establishing a federal European Union.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1999, emphasises the developments in the identity of the EPP (European People's Party), which extended to encompass a larger part of the political class, particularly after the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities.

In this extract, Pierre Bernard-Reymond, Senator for the Hautes-Alpes département since 2007, describes his work as member of the European Affairs Committee, and the committee’s role within the French Senate.