I would like to give three answers to the topics with which we dealt. Large countries also have responsibilities and we must be watchful to ensure that they take them on. I had the good luck a few weeks ago to listen to Jean Claude Yunque who comes from Luxembourg, which is also a small country. He said, "Let us never forget that a little flea can also drive a lion insane".
As to whether the convention and the European constitution process has moved forward too fast, I would say yes, but I have only been a member of the parliament since September last year and I do not know what took place prior to that. I would like to have been more involved in the work or to have received reports every now and then on what was being discussed and on decisions that were taken in order to be more au fait with matters. When another parcel of decisions were brought in, our Minister used to say, "Please do not let us open this up". They would have related to the 5% of grievances each country had, which were mentioned. As to whether it was clever to do this work so quickly, I do not know, but I doubt it.
As regards the relationship between Germany and France, it is good that we always seek to strengthen our mutual friendship, but as to whether it would have been necessary to do it in the way in which it has been done lately, I am not so sure. I might have wished it would not have been done in this way.
On the point of referenda, it is advantageous to go to the country and to visit schools to once again disseminate the idea of Europe and to explain what is meant by subsidiarity, in other words, to let people do in their environment what they can do best. Members will be familiar with the concept of subsidiarity. That might calm down some of the fears. In Germany I am against a referendum, and I am being perhaps a bit provocative when I say that it would be a great pity if the European Treaty were to fall just because the country does not like a particular clause in the agriculture rules, holds a referendum and then rejects the whole Treaty.
The positive aspects of Europe, peace and general personal freedom, are well known, and the young people are aware of these. We need to promote the other ideas and benefits of Europe to the population. There is a question of whether the Treaty has been hammered out too fast. I do not know. In Germany there are no difficulties with accepting it because our parliament votes on it and one can prepare one's members of parliament sufficiently to vote for it. It is not as difficult as with a referendum when the entire population must prepare.
I strongly support the idea of more co-operation between the national parliaments. Such co-operation would not be too difficult between Germany and Ireland which have always been great friends. Let us work jointly in this area as much as possible.