Madam President, Mr President of the Commission, at this, the final stage of a long process, I am obliged to report on the debate which my group held last night and to make a comment on our appreciation of your speech today. We voted unanimously on the joint resolution which has just been adopted by this Parliament. Our concerns were met, and I was pleased with Mr Prodi’s speech and his commitment regarding the content of this resolution. I therefore believe that I can say, on behalf of my group, that we are satisfied on this aspect. Having said this, although the way the institutions are run is one of the most important issues at stake, the political future of the European Union and its role in the world is just as important. The European Commission is the driving force of the Union and in this capacity has the power to steer the general policy of the European Union. We cannot be content with a vision of the Commission as a clerk’s office, making it a mere executor of orders from elsewhere. We must establish the vision of an ambitious European Union. Our group defends the idea that the Union must offer added value to the quality of life of our fellow citizens and that is why I welcome Mr Prodi’s proposals on food safety, even if these proposals do not seem sufficient to me. Indeed, quality of life also covers, in my view, security of employment, working conditions, public liberties and employment. Unfortunately, at the present time, the majority of citizens do not actually receive this added value. Furthermore, the Union must implement fundamental action on a world-wide scale to ensure that the differences in living standards between North and South stop increasing and that globalisation is not synonymous, as unfortunately it is today, with ecological and social damage throughout the world, including within the European Union. (Applause) Appealing for growth and greater liberalisation with a hint of sustainable development is not an adequate response. But it is, unfortunately, the one which emerged, Mr Prodi, from your speech yesterday. Within our group we were unanimous in deploring it. It would, admittedly, have been ridiculous to expect that the incoming team would have a political plan which reflected our own, but we did think we were entitled to expect some indication of an ambitious vision of the role of Europe. Unfortunately this was not the case. In spite of your speech today, we are all disappointed by your pronouncements and by your vision. This observation which is positive towards all matters of institutional reform and negative regarding the political plan is not shared unanimously within our group. We have, therefore, in all transparency according to the current trend, allowed everyone a free vote. We shall vote according to our own consciences. Some are betting that, thanks to some of its members and thanks to the changes in the attitude of the Commission to Parliament, the incoming team is capable of instigating significant political reorientation. Others think, on the other hand, that a vote in favour would be tantamount to giving a political sign that would be contrary to public opinion since it would give prior sanction to the lack of clear plans. This is the message which I have been entrusted to give you, Mr President of the Commission. I hope that you will accept it as constructive criticism, and that our unanimous desire for dialogue will not be in question. (Applause)

Political group: Verts-ALE