In a recent speech in Bonn President Delors confirmed what he said to the European Parliament on 8 April: "I have already told my colleagues that I will propose transferring certain powers back to national level". As an example Delors quoted environmental policy, suggesting a system based on mutual trust. According to Delors this system is not "as risky as one consisting of increasing the number of officials to control, a system that becomes enamoured of its powers and abuses them". Asked about these ideas of Delors, a Commission spokesman has pointed out that he will submit them to the next Commission in office from January 1993, on condition that he is still the President. Measures along these lines will make the principle of subsidiarity clear to all and will demonstrate that the EC respects national differences and specific identities. Two remarks. First, up to now the widening of the competencies attributed to the Commission has proved the only way to strengthen the Community institutions. But it

is not per se a healthy tendency, since the Commission becomes involved in fields where the Member States could decide themselves. Thus Delors is correct in saying that a "management hygiene is needed, involving greater study, the Commission in a role of guidance and leadership and confidence in the national States and, I hope, the regions and the Länder in the future". But a second remark must follow. The reduction of the areas of involvement of the Commission should be backed by a strengthening of the executive role of the Commission vis-à-vis the Council and of the legislative role of the Parliament. This institutional reform is the necessary second item of the package, otherwise the only result will be a further weakening of the European level towards the Member States.