Mr President, Mr President-in-Office, I want to begin by offering you our unqualified good wishes for a successful presidency. Recently the debate over the structure, the powers and the institutions of the European Union has come to dominate almost every European discussion. It therefore comes as a breath of fresh air to see that you have put the pursuit of the Lisbon strategy at the forefront of your policy objectives. We need to face up to the challenges of economic change and reform. At a time when Europe is facing deflation and stagnation, it is encouraging to see that you recognise the need to revive the process of major liberalisation of European economies. We need real action on the Lisbon strategy rather than empty rhetoric. The millions of unemployed throughout Europe want sustainable jobs, rather than our apparent obsession with institutional design and architecture. Jobs and prosperity will have a more direct and real impact on the lives of the people that we are here to represent than tinkering with EU institutions. Turning then to the IGC and the prospective new constitutional treaty, I urge you and your fellow Heads of State to return to the objectives that were set out in Laeken. You were amongst the European leaders who called for the Convention to bring the EU closer to the citizens. Some of us seriously question whether the outcome really achieves that. The European governments should have that Laeken statement firmly in their minds when they begin the negotiations in the IGC. Our political élites have always assumed that the only way that Europe can succeed is by regular, institutional change. But our enlarged Europe of 25 states should be a place where proper respect for the diversity of nation states is upheld and defended. Imposing a straitjacket of uniformity can only damage the true interests of unity in the EU. I also applaud the statement that you made in your priority objectives, in which you say your desire to complete the work of the IGC is dictated by respect for the values of democracy and transparency. We trust that you will keep to this in the intergovernmental negotiations that lie ahead. I would also like to clarify a matter I raised in Parliament with President Cox yesterday. The accession countries will be affected by the outcome of the IGC in the same way as the current 15 EU states. I note that they will participate in the IGC on an equal footing with current Member States. President Cox repeated that statement to me yesterday after my speech. But what does it really mean in practice? Surely it should mean that the accession countries have a full and equal right to vote in the Council on the outcome of the IGC? Perhaps you can confirm whether that is also your understanding. I also welcome your clear commitment to revive and reinvigorate the transatlantic relationship. Recent events have damaged the strong ties that exist between Europe and the USA. In a newspaper yesterday, you said that the West must be united. There cannot be competition between us and America. Given the growing strains between America and some countries in recent times, we are looking to you to take this priority forward as a high priority. We must ensure that the European Union in the defence field does not pursue objectives that lead to antagonism with the institutions of the NATO Alliance. (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE