................................................................................ ON THE RECORD ELMAR BROK INTERVIEW RECORDED FROM TRANSMISSION BBC-1 DATE: 13.3.94 ................................................................................ JOHN HUMPHRYS: But first, from Beelefeld in Germany, Elmar Brok, who is also a member of the European Parliament and the Chairman of the Christian Democrat's Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr Brok, if the other four countries, if we want to have the other four countries in, can we do so if Britain insists on its present position? ELMAR BROK: I cannot see that there will be a majority or even the possibility to get the majority for the enlargement if we stick to the twenty three votes mechanism. We have always said and it's a majority European Parliament which has to ratify the enlargement, but in the vast majority of member countries that we have to see widening and deepening together and if we do not change the voting mechanism towards twenty seven then we go back before the single act. Mrs Thatcher has made possible that we have not a veto principle any more in the single act but if we stick now to the mechanism from the single act with four more member countries, and perhaps in some years even more countries, then we have in fact more or less back to the veto right. And therefore I think British Government should overthink its position that it should not go back into a voting mechanism the time before the single act, before it was changed by the help of Mrs Thatcher. HUMPHRYS: So effectively we are bound by an existing treaty on this, as far as you are concerned? BROK: We are bound by a treaty. We have to change that but it's absolutely clear that the twenty three votes were the right thing for twelve member countries. But if we are sixteen countries then it will be very difficult to have a real possibility for decisions, the possibility that the community can act if we do not change that. HUMPHRYS: Can you see any room for compromise here? Can you understand Britain's position? BROK: I can understand that position but if I may say so the British Government says at the moment that they want not to weaken the British position, what they try to do now is to strengthen British position or German position ... HUMPHRYS: And that's unacceptable to you? BROK: I think we should stick to the same regulation as we have it now. Twenty three with twelve member countries is the same as twenty seven with sixteen member countries. Therefore, it's in reality no change. HUMPHRYS: And no room for compromise as far as you are concerned? BROK: I see no possibility. HUMPHRYS: Okay Mr Brok. Thank you very much indeed. BROK: Thank you.