Innsbruck, December 31, 1970
Reflections at Year’s End
The most important event of European politics in the past year was without a doubt the German-Soviet Treaty on Renunciation of Force and Cooperation. A logical follow-up was the German-Polish Treaty recognizing the Oder-Neisse Line as the Western border of Poland. After this territorial settlement on a grand scale, the preconditions are given for the European Security Conference, which has been aspired to by the Communist side for a long time. It would seal the status quo in Europe by an international treaty. It could be a chance to secure peace on the long-term, but it could also present the danger of splitting and weakening the Western Alliance. The Communist predominance could overshadow the rest of Europe, which is susceptible to left-wing influence anyhow.
The European economic and consequently also political integration is a slow process that may stretch over decades. But the integration cannot be stopped anymore. The new Europe, which will emerge from this process, will, despite similarities, be essentially different from the United States. A new political entity will come into being with a strong confederative character. There will be a common economy and currency, but for a long time no effective parliament. Europe cannot leave behind its past and suddenly relinquish its manifold national sovereignties. The transition to a European confederation will take time and can only be accomplished gradually.