We were not to know at the time that the end of the Communist empire was but a few years away, but it was obvious from my discussions with President Augusts Voss of the Supreme Soviet and with the State President, Andrei Gromyko, that part of the changes that were already underway in Moscow involved a new policy which accorded greater importance to the European Community and to the EP.
Ní raibh a fhios againn ag an tráth sin go dtiocfadh deireadh leis an Impireacht Chumannach cúpla bliain ina dhiaidh sin, ach ba léir dom ón bplé a bhí agam le hUachtarán Augusts Voss na Sóivéide Uachtaraí agus le hUachtarán an Stáit, Andrei Gromyko, go raibh beartas nua inar tugadh níos mó tábhachta don Chomhphobal Eorpach agus do Pharlaimint na hEorpa mar chuid d’athruithe a bhí faoi lánseoil i Moscó.