Outgoing EC executive praises unity under stress

European Common Market Commission President Roy Jenkins bowed out of office and praised the way the Community had held together despite serious problems during his four-year term. Mr. Jenkins, giving a final press conference before handing over the office to Luxembourg's Gaston Thorn, said the EC had learned "to live in a harsher climate, dealing with a wider and less coherent Europe than that of the original six."

Mr. Jenkins said the main problem facing the Thorn Commission, which will include eight members of the outgoing exec utive, will be reforming EC budget structures.