– (DE) Madam President-in-Office, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to start by thanking the President-in-Office, who negotiated with us, with Parliament, in a shrewd and tenacious manner, often without the support of her colleagues, by thanking th
e Commissioner, who never once lost sight of global European interests, both on and off stage, and by thanking al
l my colleagues who backed me at the most crucial momen
ts, even where they were of a diff ...[+++]erent opinion, and who were supportive and joined forces in order to defend Parliament's position. My sincere thanks to one and all.
- (DE) Madame la Présidente du Conseil, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues, permettez-moi d'exprimer tout d'abord mes remerciements. Merci à la présidente du Conseil, qui a négocié longuement et intelligemment avec nous, le Parlement européen, et souvent sans le soutien de ses collègues. Merci à la commissaire, qui n'a jamais perdu de vue l'intérêt commun de l'Europe, que ce soit sur le devant de la scène ou en coulisse.