Abitbol (EDD). – (FR) Madam President, I would like to join in the words that have been spoken on the subject of Mrs Randzio-Plath. I was her first vice-chairman for two and a half years. I was able to appreciate both her rigour and her courtesy, even if, as you know, our ideas scarcely brought us together.

I was also pleased to hear Mr Goebbels speaking of the harmful aspect of the Stability and Growth Pact. When I spoke in similar terms within the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs three or four years ago, I think my fellow Members were shocked. It is now clear that, in fact, I was right and that the Stability and Growth Pact is a corset that is far too tight for growth, investment and employment to be able to develop in Europe.

There is, however, in my opinion, another subject that weighs down European growth, and I think that this is the euro. In order to be convinced, we need only see that the three countries of the Union that have not adopted the euro and have preserved their monetary sovereignty are doing much better than the twelve that have chosen, within the framework of the European currency, to link their destinies and to entrust them to a veritable State Bank, a supreme bank that does not care two hoots about growth in Europe. I hope the subject of the euro will be at the centre of the next electoral campaign.

I do not know if, like Mrs Randzio-Plath, I will not return. Personally, I hope to return, but it is far from certain. That said, I very much hope that the consequences of choosing the euro will be at the centre of the next electoral campaign since, in my view, this is the main problem between Europe and its citizens today.