Mr President of the Commission, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, Commissioner, Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the presentation of the Commission’s legislative and work programme for the year 2003 constitutes an important stage in working relations between our two institutions. In fact, the presentation of this programme today marks the end of an interinstitutional schedule of financial payments agreed between our two institutions in January 2002. As this is the first exercise of its kind, it will clearly be possible to improve a number of points next time and I shall take the liberty of coming back to this matter at the end of my speech. In February 2002, the Commission presented to Parliament the annual political strategy for the year 2003. On the basis of this document, a true interinstitutional dialogue took place, from April to July, between the parliamentary committees and Commissioners concerned, on the scope and implementation of political priorities in each specific field of competence. In July, within the Conference of Committee chairmen, jointly with the Vice-President of the Commission, Mrs de Palacio, we carried out an assessment of this year’s programme. Then, in September, the Conference of Committee chairmen, also in the presence of Mrs de Palacio, drew up an inventory of the various legislative proposals that the Commission intended to introduce in its legislative and work programme for next year. The document that Mr Prodi has just presented is therefore, to a great extent, the outcome of the dialogue which has taken place throughout the year. Now, in order to conclude this process, Parliament is due to decide on a motion for a resolution on 5 December. In this regard, I would inform you that the parliamentary committees decided, at the meeting which took place the day before yesterday, to prepare, each in their own field of competence, a contribution which can be included in this motion for a resolution. Mr President, allow me to inform the European Commission, as well as Parliament, of my positive assessment of the interinstitutional schedule of financial payments which has been established for the first time. More or less one year ago, the Commission position, as you will all recall, was practically the opposite. The establishment of this schedule of financial payments required a great deal of effort, in particular by Parliament. In this regard, I would like to highlight the remarkable work of our colleague Mrs Malmström, during negotiations with the Commission. In fact, it was possible to establish the schedule of financial payments due to the mutual trust that has been created between our two institutions with regard to legislative programming. Naturally, on the basis of this year’s experience, the various stages will be better understood and can be implemented next year. A true culture of planning and interinstitutional programming is currently developing between the European institutions, which is surely moving in the direction expected by our citizens. In this regard, allow me to conclude my speech by recalling that at the time of the Seville Summit of 21 and 22 July this year, the European Council decided that the Council would establish a work programme. I therefore hope that the resolution upon which Parliament is to vote on 5 December will also address the Council with a view to establishing its programme for the year. I would like to end by emphasising the importance of dialogue with the Council. I would like to thank Mr Haarder in particular, who has always been there when we needed him. I believe it is worth emphasising, Mr Haarder, because it is good to hear congratulations, too, from time to time. Efficient legislative programming effectively means two things. First of all, transparency in terms of knowledge and citizens’ access to the legislative work that the European Union intends to undertake in the year ahead. Secondly, greater efficiency in carrying out legislative work, not forgetting that, thanks to better programming, Parliament, the Council and the Commission can inform the national parliaments and the citizens on legislative work and take full responsibility for it. (Applause) IN THE CHAIR: MR IEDRICHVice-President

Political group: PPE-DE