Andrews (UEN). – Mr President, the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq is to be very much welcomed. Nonetheless, the United States' Pentagon website has posted a list of 63 so-called favoured countries which President Bush wants to include in the bidding process for USD 18 billion of contracts to rebuild Iraq. Mr Bush has excluded from this list a number of European Member States - including Ireland - which have been long-time allies of the United States. This despite the fact that the European Union has donated EUR 40 million of EU taxpayers' money this year, and that this week we will be voting for a further EUR 500 million. To add insult to injury, the exclusion of these countries has been deemed as necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States. Public opinion in Europe was clearly divided over the question of invading Iraq. I was opposed to it. I did not believe the justifications given stood up to scrutiny, and this has proven to be the case.

I would appeal to the Commission, to the incoming Irish presidency and to you, Mr President, particularly as the EU-US Summit will be held during the Irish presidency, to impress upon President Bush the serious misjudgment he is making in this matter and the potential negative consequences for us all in western Europe.