Jean-Paul Gauzès, rapporteur. − Mr President, Commissioner, thank you for passing on our observations to Mr Rehn, but he had taken the trouble of telephoning me yesterday to explain that he would be detained elsewhere today and I was grateful to him for doing so.

Sometimes our debates are accused of being simply a string of words with no discernible direct impact on the work presented by the rapporteur. I would like, today, to try to prove the opposite and to respond to those Members − I thank all those who have spoken − who made a request.

As regards Ms Trautmann’s request, I will give very serious consideration to withdrawing Amendments 4 and 5. Of course, I have to talk to my Group, since I am a loyal ordinary foot soldier; but I will do all I can to please you and to follow the recommendation made to me, by telephone, by my friend Mr Lamassoure.

As regards the reference to the Fiscal Stability Treaty, there is a paragraph where we had fun but, strictly speaking, this reference is not of any consequence. In addition, we could be accused of talking about intergovernmentalism in a Union text; I will therefore also ask the Group for authority to remove paragraph 23 entirely.

I hope that, in this way, the excellent cooperative work undertaken during preparation of this report may continue until the vote and thus show Parliament’s determination to make the European Semester a highly effective exercise.

In this regard, I would like to say to Ms Zuber – I am a little sorry, Commissioner Barnier also just answered her – but it seems to me that we are not living in a time bubble and, without European solidarity, I dare not think what would be happening in some countries today. I think that has to be taken into account. Europe is not in the process of oppressing countries in difficulty. I think, on the contrary, that it is endeavouring to help them.