Angela Merkel, President-in-Office of the Council (DE) Mr Presid
ent, Mr Poettering, former Presidents and present Members of the European Parliament, Mr Barroso, President of the Commission, you, Mr President, are one of the Members of your House who witnessed its first hours; it could, I think, be said that you have helped shape this House in its remarkable growth from its earliest infancy to becoming what is now a very emancipated parliament with confident Members, clea
...[+++]r party structures and parliamentary groups, and hence a demanding partner in European debate, and one we cannot imagine ourselves having to do without.
Angela Merkel, présidente en exercice du Conseil . - (DE) Monsieur le Président, Monsieur Poettering, Mesdames et Messieurs les prédécesseurs de l’actuel président, Mesdames et Messieurs les députés au Parlement européen, Monsieur Barroso, Président de la Commission; Monsieur le Président, vous faites partie des parlementaires de la première heure au Parlement européen.
