Bethell (PPE-DE), in writing. – I am of course in favour of direct universal elections to our Parliament and I congratulate the rapporteur on the hard work he has put in to increase the authority and credibility of our Assembly.

There is, however, one fatal flaw in this Parliament's approach to the whole question of universal suffrage. The problem is that the five European Parliament elections that have so far taken place since 1979 have not included one particular part of the European Union. I have in mind the 15,000 voters of Gibraltar. Member States' exclusion of this small territory from the right to vote reflects no credit on them. And I have in mind successive British governments as well as others.

This report leaves open the question of the Gibraltarian vote. Although some progress has been made on this matter since the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in 1999, the matter is still unresolved.

No Council decision on European Parliament voting can be complete without recognition of the Gibraltarians' rights. That is why I shall be voting against this report.