Little by little, as the off- and on-site inspections began to pinpoint problems and shortfalls, the Bank of Italy intervened with increasing forcefulness.
Despite this setback, the European leaders were determined not to allow further delays on the road to EMU mapped out by Delors. This determination was also prompted by external circumstances which, contrary to the 1970s, now had a positive impact on developments. The collapse of the Berlin Wall in October 1989 ended the political division in Europe.