After his speech in Lille (see above), Jacques Delors confirmed in answer to a question that according to him the goal sought was not a "United States of Europe", as the notion presupposes a single nation. On the other hand, according to Pierre Moscovici, who represents the French President and Prime Minister in the Convention, the United States of Europe is the right formula. According to him, this corresponds to the "Federation of Nation States recommended by Jacques Delors, but is more exact.
I wonder: if the concept is the same, why engage in a semantic quarrel that risks creating equivocations and, moreover, raise as many polemics as those relating to the European Commission? In my opinion, the formula "United States" would be fortunate if … it had not already been taken. Throughout the world, the United States are those of America, without the continent even being mentioned. If Europe takes up that definition, the collective unconsciousness would immediately make an assimilation, arriving at the conclusion that Europe wants to repeat the same model. I agree that that this does not result from the formula itself; but the rapprochement would be automatic. It has to be avoided, as Europe wants to do other things than the USA. (F.R.)