Gawronski (PPE-DE). – (IT) Mr President-in-Office, the vulgar and tendentious attacks by certain elements of the foreign press – and some Italian elements too, I have to admit – which have been echoed in this House in some Members’ speeches and then in that pathetic demonstration, have given the start of this Italian Presidency an unnecessarily polemic tone. Paradoxically, I believe all of this is a good sign, Mr Berlusconi: remember that malice of this kind was loudly voiced in 2001 and only contributed to your resounding victory in those elections. I should like to hope that, after all this initial noise, the success of the Italian Presidency will be judged not on the private affairs of Mr Berlusconi the citizen or on your conflict of interests – which you are trying to resolve and I hope will resolve soon – but on your ability to impart that much-needed leadership and impetus to the construction of Europe, and today’s programme speech was an excellent first step in that direction.

As a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, I am sure that in this area, the area that concerns me, some problems can be resolved, such as mending the damaged relations with the United States. Progress will be made on other issues, such as the Middle East, where Italy has already shown great diplomatic skill, or the assimilation of the new countries that are about to join, who quite rightly see in Mr Berlusconi a defender of their interests and their principles, a political leader who, unlike others, has understood that there is no contradiction between European commitment and Atlantic solidarity.

Having said that, Mr Berlusconi, I believe your task remains a difficult one, because there will be no concessions for you: every decision, every gesture you make will be subjected to close appraisal and scrutiny, and you will not be forgiven for any false move. However, this is not the first time you have undergone this kind of examination: good luck, Mr Berlusconi!