Gahrton (Verts/ALE). (SV) Mr President, different assessments can, of course, be made as to whether the Commission’s action is so serious as to require a motion of censure, and I can therefore respect a contribution as objective as that of Mr Jonckheer. When, however, I listened to Mrs Grossetête, Mr Kuhne etc., I was reminded of when, in the Eighties, I visited the Supreme Soviet in Moscow where all critics were held up to ridicule, condemned and accused of being anti-Soviet and traitors. Is that the way in which you are to defend your EU project? Is it to be done by means of accusations and ridicule, through the harassment of whistleblowers and by setting the police on investigative journalists?

Have you not noticed that the project is suffering from a crisis of confidence due to the lack of transparency and democratic legitimacy? We are attempting to use a classic parliamentary tool to monitor the executive. You may have a different view but, when you ridicule us, run us down and call us anti-Europeans, you undermine the democratic legitimacy of your own project.