Sajjad Karim (ECR). – Mr President, some two and a half years ago I had a very pleasant surprise when the Commissioner/Vice-President wanted to sit with me and discuss what the Commission Work Programme should be at that time. I have many members from my committee here, where I have led on the subsidiarity and proportionality, better law—making brief. I have been very prescriptive in my approach throughout that time but I find, based upon my national position as a British MEP, that I cannot be so prescriptive now.

Commissioner, you may recall that in the conversation we had at that time it was clear that the Europe and national state relationship was broken and that is what did it for us in the United Kingdom now. That is what must absolutely be fixed. I keep being told by colleagues that you Britishers cannot have à la carte Europe. Well, actually, colleagues, you have all got à la carte Europe. When Europe does something good, your national governments claim it for themselves. When Europe does something which is misreported, your national governments blame it on Europe, and unless you bridge that gap by making your parliaments directly a part of the decision—making process here in the European Union, I am afraid that bridge is going to get wider and wider and eventually, one by one, we will all fall in ...

(The President cut off the speaker)