Mr President, I congratulate the Commissioner on having got the accession countries to a stage where there are fewer than 40 serious concerns out of 140 elements of the acquis, and most of the concerns are in the area of health and food legislation and public administration. Without making light of those concerns, is the Commissioner confident that these obstacles can be overcome by next May?

Moreover, on Bulgaria and Romania, their clear difference is emerging. I would like to ask the Commissioner whether he will give the clear signal that Sofia has asked for on the Union's final requirement, and whether he will be tough with the Romanians on the very substantial progress that Romania still has to make.

I welcome the Commissioner's remarks on Turkey. The reforms of Mr Erdogan's government are real and must be welcomed. And they have to be fully implemented. We are right to demand more, particularly on political rights and on Cyprus. But let us acknowledge Turkey's very strident steps forward and I hope that the Commissioner will commit himself to finding all the resources possible for working with Turkey and help it towards membership.