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Mitterrand, Let us stress the importance of multilingualism

   The expressions of Europe's many forms of genius are rich and diverse; and, as in the past, we must share with the whole world - while not seeking to impose them, somewhat differently from in the past - our ideas, our dreams and, to the extent that they are of the right kind, our passions. In the GATT negotiations, a year ago, the principle of cultural exception was upheld. This is the idea that works of the intellect are not simply goods like any others. It stems from the belief that the cultural identity of our nations, the right of each people to develop its own culture, is in jeopardy. It embodies the will to defend freedom and diversity for all countries, to refuse to cede the means of representation - in other words, the means of asserting one's identity - to others...  Read Complete

      Cf.  Proudhon, Principe Fédératif * Le mémorandum d'Alexis Leger * The Briand Memorandum * Kalergi, European Spirit must Precede Europe's Political Unification * La Construction de l'Europe selon Jean Monnet * Plan Fouchet * L'Union Européenne selon Altiero Spinelli * Mitterrand and Kohl urge European Political Union * Il Manifesto di Ventotene