In the early 1980’s, a former French foreign minister, Jean François-Poncet suggested that France and the United Kingdom give up their seats on the UN Security Council in favour of a single European Union seat. Germany would no longer seek a seat, Italy would not feel left out, and Europe’s international identity would be strengthened in a spectacular way.
20世纪80年代初，前法国外长让·弗朗索瓦-蓬塞提议英法两国放弃在联合国安理会的席位，代之以单一的欧盟席位。这样，德国不会再寻求加入安理会，意大利也不会感到被排挤，欧洲的国际地位将得到显著增强。