Mr President, anyone who funds those involved in terrorism brings shame on this House. (Applause) The way to resolve the Basque conflict is for those who are persecuting and killing us to stop doing so and leave us to live in freedom. Mr President-in-Office of the Council, it is true that we could have made more progress, but we could also have made much less progress, and true that we could have done a lot better, but we could also have done a lot worse. This is all on the basis that in a six-month presidency there are neither resounding successes nor complete failures. In six months there is not enough time for complete failures, they are impossible, and relative failures can be explained. You yourself, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, have acknowledged the futility of a rotational system that results in presidencies being forced to seek success, nationally if possible and in a short space of time. In this sense, the reforms of the Council agreed in Seville, which have already been discussed, represent minimal, but positive progress. I am not here to criticise you, but neither am I here to flatter you, so I will assess the status of three of your priorities: enlargement, transatlantic relations and foreign relations. With regard to enlargement, I can say nothing less than that the objectives have not been fulfilled, you have said so yourself. The chapter that the Presidency had proposed closing in order to achieve the reunification of Europe and make it a reality remain open. They are difficult subjects and give rise to a lot of suspicion in various Member States, but refusing to promote a serious debate that will enable us to overcome the uncertainty is not the solution. Regarding relations with our main ally, I have to acknowledge, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, that you have had an undeniable personal success: you were invited to Camp David. But that relationship was not cemented in Europe’s favour in terms of its relations with the United States. They have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, they have withdrawn their signature from the creation of the International Criminal Court, they will not take advice on the Middle East, and the variety of trade disputes between us are increasing. In short, our leadership is flagging. Regarding foreign relations, it is true that the agreement with Chile has been signed, on which we congratulate you, but this Presidency has not given the Union’s policy on Latin America and the Mediterranean the position it deserves. Europe is not doing well, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, it is not doing better than it was six months ago. I know that we have had to go through some difficult times, but politics is for difficult times. Therefore, with the same sincerity with which I offered you our support six months ago, believe me, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, I tell you that I hoped and wished for more. More success, more progress, less uncertainty. To conclude, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, I was not planning to describe this Presidency, but your Minister for Foreign Affairs, as always, has provoked me by saying that he is reasonably satisfied. Perhaps because I am leftwing and a woman, and women and the left wing require more ambition, I will say that I am reasonably unsatisfied. (Applause)

Political group: PSE