Strasbourg, 20/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, opened the session slightly late due to his attendance, together with the Rwandan President, of the victims of genocide commemoration service, which was organised by the Liberal group.
He gave a warm welcome to the new French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Michel Barnier, who had come to thank the European Parliament for its co-operation during his time as European Commissioner for Regional Policy and institutional affairs.
Having noted that he was to occupy the Council for just a few minutes and with "the agreement of the Irish Presidency", Michel Barnier said that he was grateful for being able to take leave having shared with the MEPs "the fights I fought for five years". He referred to the Constitution, to which he contributed as a member of the European Convention, pointing out that "the Parliament Convention members were always active, uncompromising, intelligent", and adding that when the time came to explain it to the citizens, "we will be as a team once more". Mr Barnier thanked the President of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs Giorgio Napolitano (Democratici di Sinistra, Italy) for all his help.
Stressing the importance of the cohesion policy, which allows the poorest regions to be "partner regions and not spectators", the former European Commissioner promised that "neither my ideas, nor my method, nor, above my availability to this parliament and the friendship I have for those who compose it will be changed in any way".