Mr President, to follow on from Commissioner Patten: Mr Morillon’s report does indeed come at an exceptionally good time. After all, in recent weeks we have been facing the fact of the actual powerlessness of the European Union and even of the Member States together to count for anything in the area of defence. The reproach made against the United States that America may not be the policeman of the world actually sounds comical coming from the mouths of those who are by no means in a position to be so themselves and for that matter are often not prepared to be so. The experience in Yugoslavia in particular, where it was not ‘peacefulness’ and ‘modesty’ that led to the reserved attitude of the European states, but ‘cynicism’ and ‘indifference’, taught us this at the time. This hypocrisy has slowly disappeared from this Parliament. I think that we have all seen very clearly that Europe has defence responsibilities and must live up to them one way or another. It is to be hoped that it will actually come to this. This responsibility can really only appear to full advantage through the organisations of the European Union and then in cooperation with our transatlantic allies. We shall always have to say these two in one breath. They are closely bound up with one another. After all, the more transatlantic trust there is, the greater the unity within the European Union will be. Remarkably, the discord that we often see in this area in the European Union is connected with our attitude towards America, our transatlantic ally. The linking of these two is therefore a very important element, as it is in General Morillon’s report. In it, he outlines a realistic path to a European defence responsibility, knowing very well on the basis of his expertise as a general that military action is always embedded in everything that is needed by way of civil action before and after. We are very aware of this now that the mob in Baghdad is plundering and looting its way through the streets. Then you do indeed immediately need a civil arm alongside a military campaign that has reached a successful conclusion. This careful, realistic path is chosen by way for example of common research and development, a common identification of military needs from a European view. That is of course always something new and for many countries it will be difficult to change over to this, but for us it is of the greatest importance. It is also of the greatest importance for production. In this way it is possible to make a substantial increase in the efficiency of the defence effort. If we start from the search for a European view of our defence responsibility, the trust of all the Member States can also be gained. After all, no one will be at a loss regarding the question of which big country to follow: France, Germany, the United Kingdom or the United States. It is a matter of us in the European Union together following a European view in military affairs. Mr Morillon’s report gives a very clear boost to this. In this he is actually following a method that has already been recommended by Commissioner Patten, that is exploring the limits of what the Treaties actually already make possible for us. If you do that thoroughly and at a certain point you run into a wall, then you know which one it is, what a reform must look like and how institutional changes must be formulated. I myself always find this an exceptionally practical path and General Morillon has chosen it too. For the time being the prospects for a European defence responsibility are not yet especially good of course. Given the developments that we have recently observed, the Member States and the members of the Council itself do not have a serious view of the Council. Otherwise the Greek Presidency would for example currently be having a far greater part to play in initiatives that are being taken in this area. We must not think that the European Union could break up into two groups, each with strengthened cooperation. In short: it is incredibly important that European defence, at the request of the citizens as Mr Morillon writes, takes shape. Then the budgets can be used more efficiently and that will be an immediate benefit for all citizens.

Political group: PPE-DE