A few points to clear up. During the hearings of the future Commissioners, the MEPs raised the issue of the Union's external actions, without going into any details. The big changes will come in 2006 or 2007 when Javier Solana takes up his post as European Foreign Minister. Before this happens, the problem of keeping an institutional balance will have to have been resolved, with a vice-president of the Commission who will act as a Council representative, chair the Foreign Affairs Council and...