for them. By 1989, they had achieved 35 million votes. As Eastern European states join the Community the Christian Democrats' position will become even stronger. Understanding what inspires and motivates them will therefore not be of secondary importance.
The Next Ten Years: The Responsible Society
Egon Klepsch, the Chairman of the European People's Party in the European Parliament, draws on a rich legacy of Christian Democrat involvement when he cites the achievements of the Community's founding father. Today he and the present generation of Christian Democrat leaders - Helmut Kohl, Giulio Andreotti, Ruud Lubbers, Jacques Santer, Wilfried Martens and Konstantinos Mitsotakis look forward to the fulfilment of Schuman's dream: 'If the Christian Democrats had not had the strength to believe in utopias and to put them into political practice following the destruction caused by World War Two, Europe would not be where it is today. We must all work together and make every effort if European Political Union - the Federal States of Europe - is to become a reality,' Klepsch said in 1990.11 He resolutely opposes the idea of sealing off the Community, creating a Fortress Europe: 'We have a specific responsibility towards the Third and Fourth worlds, notably through the Rome Conventions which have been decisively influenced by the Christian Democrats.' Nor does he believe that Christian Democrats any longer have to 'prove themselves'. He says, 'The historic developments now taking place in Europe provide ample and impressive confirmation of the correctness of our policies.' Encumbered by none of the national chauvinism or isolationist baggage which has led to Britain's very negative relationship with the Community, Christian Democrats throughout Europe have been able to think positively and plan for the future. Although they would like to see a constructive role for Britain, Klepsch told the Dutch CDA 1990 Symposium that if the then Prime Minister Mrs Thatcher continued to oppose federalism he 'could live with a Community of less than twelve'. The Christian Democrats argue strongly for the development of the Community's less prosperous regions, external and internal security arrangements and the strengthening of democratic decision-making processes within the Community. This and their support for the Social Charter (clearly in line with Adenauer's thinking and the teachings of Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno) is all anathema to the former British Prime Minister, to say nothing of diehards such as her Trade Secretary, Nicholas Ridley, who shares de Gaulle's view of the Germans. Nor would she have been in agreement with their refusal to support destructive