Mr President, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr Solana in this Parliament. It is indeed an historic moment for him to appear before us. You have a set of key responsibilities which include a very political task. In fact, as I understand it, you mainly see yourself as a politician. You have said that the Ministers for Foreign Affairs should be able to take far more decisions in this respect. This is necessary for your role. But this means, of course, that more economical use should be made of the right of veto. Is this what you meant to say? For years, Parliament has been looking forward to adopting a clear security and defence policy. The war in ex-Yugoslavia proved to be a bitter experience. Hundreds of thousands of people died for lack of a bold EU policy or action from other international organisations. Member States often acted as a brake on any decision taking. Recent publications from the United Nations on Srebrenica once again show how various international organisations fell short of their responsibilities. In principle, the Union could make quite a few proposals. Mr Patten clearly stated that we have many civil options within the international system of law. But when it comes down to it, there is still no military backbone. America’s experience with Haiti has shown that diplomatic negotiations with a dictator are far more effective if the military power is apparent in the background. High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten understand very well how interdependent the civil and the more military aspects of the CFSP are and, thus, how much they need each other as well. They have decided to work together very closely, as a result of which we will have a true Common Foreign and Security Policy far earlier than expected. We think that this cooperation can be very fruitful. Because even amongst ourselves, the dividing lines are fading in the light of significant problems and major humanitarian suffering which we are facing here. Now that Mr Solana will also be taking over the helm of the Western European Union, he will undoubtedly have a complex task ahead of him. How does he feel about the integration, in time, of the Western European Union into the European Union? How will he manage it? – reforming a military force of the Members and reinforcing the efficiency of the financial effort. Will the discussion regarding the Eurocorps, based in this city, increasingly focus on the Petersberg Tasks? For example, what changes are to be made to the German-Dutch army corps that is already functioning smoothly? Indeed, the traditional territorial defence tasks may no longer be sufficient here either. The corps in itself is an absolute gem because it is the only thing that actually works. Finally, I would invite Mr Solana to continue to give the necessary attention to former Yugoslavia. The European Union should emphatically demand that not only the minor but also the major war criminals, Karadzic and Mladic, be arrested. It is in this sphere in particular that cooperation between the military and their policing task on the one hand, and civil policy on the other, is desperately needed. Mr Solana, a new office does not just mean a new office, but perhaps – as we all wish – a new policy also. You said that our Common Foreign and Security Policy must be more than just declarations. In this regard, I think you are absolutely right and endorse your view. However, you went further, and the next thing which you considered we need are military capabilities. I do not doubt that we also need military capabilities, but I shall leave it to my colleague, Mr Oostlander, to deal with the specifics of the corps. I would like to stress what Pierre Schori said previously: We need conflict prevention, which does not come about naturally. We must create structures so that conflict prevention is precisely that, leaving the corps and the military capabilities to one side, and perhaps even bringing a peaceful resolution to problems which arise. Mr Solana, I say this with real conviction because I also, as soon as I hear of conflict or crisis, immediately think of the military. We must change this way of thinking. I ask you and invite you to work with Parliament to change this! (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE