Günter Verheugen (Vice-President of the Commission) made the statement.
The following spoke: John Bowis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Dorette Corbey, on behalf of the PSE Group, Carl Schlyter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Irena Belohorská, Non-attached Member, Anne Ferreira and Åsa Westlund.
The following spoke under the 'catch-the-eye' procedure: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges and Avril Doyle.