The Record: Europe

4 July edition
Lucy Thomas
Producer

The showdown at Fontainebleau

This week the Record Europe looks back at the Fontainebleau summit, held 25 years ago.

It was here that Margaret Thatcher famously got the UK's "own money back" as European Community leaders granted the British rebate, reducing the gap between what Britain put in and got out of Europe.

Gabrielle O'Neill looks back at what led to the showdown at Fontainebleau, speaking to:

• Sir Michael Butler, UK ambassador to the European Community 1979-85

• Lord Owen, UK foreign secretary 1977-79

• Lord Howe, UK foreign secretary 1983-1989

• John Palmer, European editor of the Guardian 1975-83

Fontainebleau: Victory for Thatcher?

But not everybody saw it as a victory for the Iron Lady, "hand-bagging" her European counterparts to accept the rebate. We hear from François Mitterand's special adviser at the time, Jacques Attali.

According to his version of events, Thatcher was "crying, begging for her tip", and the negotiations left her "like broken glass".

Also on the programme

Twenty five years on from the summit at Fontainebleau, the Record Europe hears from three of Brussels' longest serving journalists who were there at the time.

Joining Shirin Wheeler are:

• Geoff Meade, the Press Association's Europe editor since 1979

• Philippe Lemaitre, Le Monde's Brussels correspondent, 1966 to 2001

• John Wyles, the Financial Times' Brussels bureau chief, 1979 to 1984

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The discussion in full

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The Record: Europe examines the key moments in the political week in Brussels and Strasbourg and focuses on the work of the European Parliament and European Commission.

It is broadcast on BBC Parliament on Saturdays at 2300, Sundays at 1700 and Mondays at 1000, on BBC World on Saturdays at 1330 and Sundays at 0630 and on the BBC News channel on Sundays at 0530 and Mondays at 0330.